Maha Zahid brings African classical piano traditions to Rabat

Wednesday 16 - 23:45

The Villa des Arts in Rabat will host a distinctive evening of classical music on Saturday, as Moroccan pianist Maha Zahid presents a programme dedicated to the diverse musical heritage of Africa.

Organised by the Al Mada Foundation–Villa des Arts, the concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and will focus on classical works connected to several African musical traditions. Rather than presenting a single national repertoire, the programme is designed as a musical journey across the continent, bringing together works associated with Nigeria, Ethiopia and Morocco.

A piano journey across Africa

Zahid's programme explores the different ways African cultural traditions have been translated into classical piano writing. The repertoire moves between contrasting musical worlds, from forms and variations drawing on Yoruba rituals to more introspective and atmospheric compositions.

The selection also creates space for works shaped by spiritual reflection, nocturnal imagery and poetic expression. Through these contrasting approaches, the piano becomes a meeting point between cultural memory and the formal language of classical music.

The concert will feature works by composers including Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Ayo Bankole, Emahoy Mariam Tsegue Guebrou, Fred Onovwerosuoke and Nabil Benabdeljalil.

The programme reflects a broader effort to highlight the richness of African classical composition and bring its lesser-known repertoire to wider audiences.

Maha Zahid, a career built around sound

For Zahid, the piano is not simply an instrument for reproducing notes but a medium through which sound can be shaped with precision and sensitivity. The Casablanca-born pianist has developed an artistic identity centred on attentive listening and a highly personal approach to musical texture.

Her training began at the Conservatory of Casablanca, where she studied with Ali Moussadak. She later continued her studies at the École normale de musique de Paris, working with Caroline Sageman and Jean-Marc Luisada.

Her musical education subsequently took her to the Royal Conservatory of Liège, where she was unanimously admitted. There, she worked with Alexander Gurning, Florian Noack and Christophe Meunier before completing her studies.

Zahid has also taken part in masterclasses with internationally recognised pianists including Alexandre Tharaud, David Fray and Claire Désert.

From Morocco to international stages

Her performance career began in Morocco before expanding across Europe and beyond. At 19, she gave her first concert at Théâtre 121 of the Institut français in Casablanca. Since then, she has appeared at venues including the Opéra Comédie in Montpellier, the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris, the Acropolium of Carthage in Tunisia and the Théâtre Marguerite in Caltanissetta, Italy.

She has also returned to stages in Rabat, including the Villa des Arts and the National Library, while performing at venues and cultural institutions in France and Morocco.

A significant international phase began in 2024, when Zahid made her debut in England, including a performance at Cheltenham Town Hall. She subsequently performed in Hong Kong, extending her presence into the Asian cultural scene.

Her 2026 schedule includes a debut at the Opéra de Montpellier with the Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie, marking another milestone in an increasingly international career.

Artistic leadership beyond the stage

Zahid's work also extends into cultural programming. Since 2021, she has served as artistic director of the Festival Musique aux Beaux Jours, combining her work as a performer with a role in developing musical projects and programming.

She received support from the TAT Foundation in 2022 and 2023, further accompanying the development of her artistic activities.

Her Rabat performance places that experience within a particularly broad repertoire, using the piano to connect African musical traditions with contemporary classical interpretation. The evening at the Villa des Arts is therefore positioned not only as a recital, but also as an exploration of the continent's diverse contribution to classical music.