Moroccan broadcasting icon Ali Hassan passes away at 84

Monday 25 August 2025 - 14:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Moroccan broadcasting icon Ali Hassan passes away at 84

The Moroccan media and cultural landscape mourns the loss of Ali Hassan, a celebrated journalist and television presenter, who passed away on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the age of 84, according to sources close to his family.

A pioneer of Moroccan broadcasting

Born as Mohamed El Wali in the village of Taddamout near Midelt, Hassan became a leading figure in Moroccan media. His career began in 1964 when he joined Radio and Television Maroc (now SNRT). By 1969, he was a prominent news presenter on both television and radio, a role he held until 1987 before transitioning into cultural programming, where he made his most lasting contributions.

Hassan was best known for his role as the host of Cinéma du Jeudi, a beloved program on Morocco’s first channel, where he introduced films to audiences. Between 2003 and 2014, he also hosted Club Cinéma, while producing the radio show Entracte intermittently from 1970 to 2015.

Contributions beyond the screen

Ali Hassan played a significant role in shaping Morocco’s audiovisual industry. In the early 1980s, he contributed to the launch of Radio Médi 1 and later participated in research for ONA (1987–1989), which laid the groundwork for Morocco’s second television channel, 2M.

Hassan also had a notable presence in Moroccan cinema. He acted in several films, including Ibn Sabil by Mohamed Abderrahman Tazi and Afghanistan, pourquoi? by Abdellah Mesbahi. His collaborations with directors like Mustapha Derkaoui and Ismail Frouhi further highlighted his versatility. Additionally, he lent his voice to various productions, particularly as a narrator and commentator for the illustrated news magazine Al-Anba’ Al-Musawwara (1973–1982), produced by the Moroccan Cinematographic Center.

A cultural legacy

Beyond broadcasting and cinema, Hassan held influential roles in cultural institutions. From 1998 to 2000, he served as an advisor to the Minister of Communication. His expertise saw him preside over the press jury at the Francophone Film Festival of Asfi in 2004, participate in national film production support committees from 2012 to 2014, and join the jury of the Maghreb Film Festival in Algiers in 2013.

Throughout a career spanning nearly five decades, his contributions left an indelible mark on Moroccan media, cinema, and cultural development. His passing signals the end of an era for many Moroccans who grew up with his voice and presence, a testament to his lasting influence on the nation’s cultural identity.