The Moroccan artistic scene was saddened by the news of the death of Moroccan song dean Abdelwahab Doukkali at the age of 85, following his deteriorating health after undergoing a delicate surgery.
A source close to the deceased confirmed that Doukkali died as a result of the deterioration of his health condition, as he was lying in the recovery department following that operation, amid a wide follow-up by his fans inside and outside Morocco.
Conflicting reports circulated over the past hours about his health condition, before he ended up losing one of the most prominent artistic figures who imprinted the national and Arab musical memory for many decades.
Abdelwahab Doukkali is one of the pillars of modern Moroccan song, as he imprinted on an exceptional artistic experience that combined the power of the word, the beauty of the melody and the specificity of the performance, contributing to taking the Moroccan song to wider Arab horizons, through works that have remained firmly entrenched in the collective memory, such as "The Messenger of Love" and "I Am Only a Human".
Throughout his artistic career, the late Rahman maintained a special place within the music scene, thanks to his high-end artistic choices and adherence to Moroccan originality, so that his name remains associated with a golden period in the history of Moroccan music, which made him one of the last guardians of the "beautiful time".
The news of his death left a great shock in the artistic and cultural circles, as social media platforms were full of messages of condolence and condolences, evoking the long artistic path of the author of immortal songs, and the deep impact he left on the hearts of generations of Moroccans and Arabs.
Throughout his career, the late artist maintained his special place in the music scene, thanks to his high-end artistic choices and adherence to Moroccan authenticity, which made his name remain associated with a golden period in the history of Moroccan music.
The late Dukkali Awards
He won the gold record for his famous song "Ma Ana Na Mashr", which is one of the works that established his public presence and was considered a milestone in his career, and it is possible to go back to the history of the Arabic song to understand the context of its spread.
He won the Grand Prix of the Moroccan Song Festival twice: the first in 1985 for the song "Kan Ya Ma Kaan" in Mohammedia, and the second in 1993 for the song "Agar Alik" in Marrakech, which strengthened his presence in the Moroccan music scene and confirmed his ability to renew the art. You can check out the Moroccan Song Festivals to understand the significance of these awards.
At the international level, he won the Grand Prize of the Cairo International Song Festival in 1996 and 1997 for his work "The Market of Humanity", a rare achievement that reflects a wide Arab appreciation for his artistic experience.
He received an exceptional honor from the Vatican, where he received medals from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of his role as a "messenger of peace and love", a rare honor for an Arab artist, and reflects a human dimension in his career that can be deepened through international honors for Arab artists.
At the official level, he was awarded the Alawite Order of the Order of Commander, one of Morocco's highest royal honors, in recognition of his contributions to Moroccan culture and his role in promoting the national artistic identity.