Rabat trembled on Saturday evening June 21, on the occasion of the 20th edition of the Mawazine music festival. On the OLM Souissi stage, dominated by the spotlights and an infrastructure worthy of the major international reference events, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson offered a spectacle of rare power. More than twenty years from his beginnings on the world scene, the artist of Queens proved that the flame was not about to go out.
From the first notes of “In Da Club”, the crowd, estimated at several tens of thousands of festival -goers, has ignited. A human tide of hypnotized faces sang in chorus this tube which crosses the generations … Then come “21 questions”, sweet romantic confession, and “Candy Shop”, festive hymn imbued with an irresistible groove. As written in the sky, an impression persists: powered by the raw energy of its legendary tubes, 50 Cent illuminated Rabat…
The show was above all a powerful exchange between the artist and his fans. 50 Cent, confident and radiant, sailed between the pieces playing with his charisma. Accompanied by a DJ, dancers and a carefully calibrated visual set, he chained titles like so many messages addressed to the crowd: “I am here to make this night an unforgettable party this night». A tribute to his musical heritage served brilliantly and full of nostalgia.
Behind him, the OLM Souissi scene was sublimated. Gigantic structure, sophisticated lighting, animated LED walls: the installation testified to the high-tech ambition of Mawazine, which leaves nothing to chance. The contrast with the Moroccan framework, between the night heat of a June night and the freshness of a planetary event, helped create a unique moment, mixing local authenticity and US urban culture.
Somewhere between the lines of the concert, we also felt the posture of an icon still on a mission: that of representing an American hip – hop scene still influential. 50 Cent is more than a voice, it is a brand: actor, entrepreneur, producer, his affairs demonstrate the extent of his cultural empire. That evening, he not only sang, he executed a master class in Vegas in the heart of Rabat.
Since 2001
Organized under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, Mawazine remains an outstanding international showcase for Morocco. The first edition dates from 2001, and some two decades later, the festival remains a heavyweight in the world musical landscape: millions of spectators, six scenes and an unrivaled program combining international headliners and local talents.
The 2025 edition, extending until June 28 between Rabat and Salé, offers an impressive menu: Becky G, Afrojack, Kid Cudi, Lil Baby, Yemi Alade, Cheikh Lô … The presence of 50 cent as a headliner on June 21 testifies to the ambition to attract a diversified audience, but also passionate about hip – hop. The concert on the Souissi OLM stage at 10:30 p.m., will remain in the annals as one of the great moments of the festival.
The evening behind the scenes
The public responded present from the start, social networks are full of hashtags like #50cent, #Mawazine2025 and #Rabat. The reactions ranged from pure nostalgia to joy shared by a new generation, rediscovering the classics of Curtis Jackson. “”When Morocco brings out the big guns“Comments an internet user, admiring, expressing the power of this cultural turning point.
On the organization side, nothing was left to chance. Ticketing or free concerts, meticulous logistics, the fluid performance of performance: everything converges to offer the public an immersive, secure and festive experience.
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This passage from 50 Cent to Rabat also makes it possible to tackle broader issues: the growing enthusiasm for urban cultures, the role of the festival as an interface between Africa and world artists, and above all, the affirmation of a Morocco turned towards the future. Each year, Mawazine proves that a mass cultural event can be a vector of diplomacy, unit and tourist appeal.
The presence of an artist of this scale reaffirms the relevance of a project born in 2001 and carried by Morocco Cultures. With record attendance in 2019 (2.75 million spectators, second world festival after that of Vienna), the challenge is to embrace this evolution without losing the soul of the festival: a clever dosage of free, diversity and artistic requirement.
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On Saturday evening, on the scene of OLM Souissi, 50 Cent reinfined a common, Mediterranean and urban energy. Between nostalgia for the 2000s and confirmation that hip – hop crosses the ages, the concert was a highlight of this 20th edition. Sure, 50 Cent in Mawazine will remain registered in the memories.
