CONSTANTINE - Constantine came alive Saturday night with Andalusian melodies as the 13th International Malouf Cultural Festival officially opened, whose inaugural evening unfolded in both solemn and celebratory spirit at the regional theatre Mohamed Taher Fergani.

This event, dedicated to preserving and celebrating ancestral musical heritage, drew large crowds eager to experience an opening night filled with emotion and vibrant performances.

Distinguished artists from Constantine, Tlemcen, Algiers, and Tunisia, the festival's guest of honor, graced the stage.

The inaugural evening began with an electrifying atmosphere as Mohamed Reda Boudebagh delivered a magnificent performance of “Hadra wa Diwane,” joined by singers Malek Chelouk and Adel Meghouache.

They captivated the audience with powerful melodies and deeply meaningful lyrics, complemented by a stunning Tahwel dance performance, a traditional, rhythmic, and expressive dance form deeply rooted in Constantine's festive and musical heritage.

After this sequence full of emotion and movement, the star Leila Borsali from Tlemcen went up on stage and beautifully succeeded in the transition towards a crystalline atmosphere transporting the public from the Malouf genre towards El Gharnati passing through Sanaa.