TAMANRASSET- The International Southern Music Festival in Tamanrasset serves as an opportunity for cultural dialogue and a platform for cultural exchange between peoples, festival organizers said Wednesday.

Festival Commissioner Abdelkader Bousmaha stressed that this cultural event, hosted in the capital of the Hoggar region from December 16 to 21 with the participation of Algerian artists and guests from various countries including Libya, Palestine, Western Sahara, and Niger, "is not just an entertainment event, but a gateway for cultural dialogue and a platform for encounter and exchange between multiple cultures."

During his opening statement, Nabil Hadji, representative of the Ministry of Culture and Arts, said "this festival is a major event in a unique cultural region," highlighting the richness of Algerian cultural heritage and its authentic traditions reflecting the national identity.

He added that the ministry attaches significant importance to all musical rhythms, emphasizing that the organization of the International Southern Music Festival is a celebration of aesthetics and creativity and an artistic and cultural event that unites Algerian and African music and gathers Algerian artists and their guests from neighboring and friendly countries.

The opening ceremony of the first edition of the International Southern Music Festival, entitled "The Desert Rhythms," was held in a festive atmosphere marked by multiple artistic and folkloric performances, in addition to a musical show by the local band Takouba at the performance area, where a stage was installed to host the different artistic evenings scheduled throughout the event.

An artistic evening was also scheduled featuring El-Ferda band of Bechar, singer Nora Gnawa, Star Guitar band of Tamanrasset, and Tikoubaouine band of In Salah, where the audience enjoyed the artistic rhythms and musical performances.