As is the rule, the moussem des Roses takes place on the first or second weekend in May the Rose moussem. Just a few photos, before we finish processing all the photos and videos we took on site.
At the “Moussem des Roses”, this time we attended the election of the Queen of the Roses. It was a world away from the usual Miss pageants, far from the studios, with no swimming costume parade, yet all the emotion was there, the stress of the candidates, and even the ‘frenzied’ crowd crowding around the star of the day, once she had been elected.
As the parade traditionally takes place on the Saturday (although this year we didn’t have one), the queen has to be chosen the day before. Of the original twenty-three candidates, seven were left to make a single appearance before a rather amateurish and benevolent jury.
They were dressed in the heavy traditional costume worn by the women to perform the bee dance, which crowns their heads with an imposing tiara made of ribbons, multicoloured wools and sequins. Gathered a few metres from the “podium”, under a tent, they wait in stress. Their hands are finely decorated with henna, but they’re shaking a little from stage fright.
Then the parade began. Each in turn had to advance in front of the audience, make a small turn and return. No questions, no tests, and yet we could feel that for some it was already difficult! A tall man in a black jumper guided them, “left, right, stop, turn around”, a sort of local version of Madame de Fontenay!
As you can see, the ‘podium’ consisted simply of a few local carpets on the ground, and instead of Louboutin stilettos, the candidates wore traditional embroidered leather slippers. In the background was a giant teapot of sorts, an inflatable balloon representing the festival’s main sponsor, the Sultan tea brand, which you see everywhere at Moroccan events (if you’re lucky you might even get a free tasting of tea).
Sheets of paper were distributed to the members of the jury, who marked them, paying attention to the little details of the outfit, the colours, an extra rose in the hair, a belt… Collected completely anonymously, they were brought together to determine the winner.
Meanwhile, the various groups took turns in the central arena. The Zagora sword dance was particularly impressive, as were the Gnaoua groups. Many spectators moved quietly from the terraces to the stage, or to the “more or less official” tents which sheltered from the sun the groups of musicians, the members of the municipality, the jury, and those who had arrived early enough to find a seat.
It was time to announce the winner, who would become the 2012 Rose Queen. Once the results had been announced, a first series of photos was taken with all the equipment at hand, including Ipads, mobile phones and, despite everything, a few cameras.
There was no SMS voting, no live television broadcast, no prestigious jury, no “competing brand”. Miss Rose will not be competing for the title of Miss Morocco, then Miss Africa… there was also a sound system, ice-cream vendors, mobile phones, a whole range of technology that probably didn’t exist fifty years ago.
It was a party in Kelaat M'Gouna, for the locals and those who wanted to share it.
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