|PIC1|A festival designed to unite Christians and Muslims in peace and tolerance will kick off tomorrow in Marrakech, Morocco.

Held May 5-7, the second annual Friendship Fest will play as a follow-up to the success of last year’s first Friendship Fest, which drew an estimate 85,000 people. Artists promoted from America and musicians in Morocco shared the stage, as they will this year.

This year from America, Grammy-winning group The Crabb Family, Dove-nominated artists George Huff and Joy Williams, and Dove-winning artists Jaci Velasquez, KJ-52 and Downhere, will be joined onstage by a number of contemporary and traditional Moroccan music artists during the 18 hours of the music festival.

Musicans who attended last year include Delirious?, newsboys, Out of Eden, and Joy Williams.

|AD|Music promoters Harry Thomas and Tim Landis (co-founders of Creation Festivals, Inc.) were once again invited by Marrakech Regional President Abdelali Doumou, with the full support of Wali (Governor).

“The only thing that was translated were the introductions of the performers”, said Thomas. “The universal language of music translated itself.”

Thomas and Landis have so far put together a diverse line-up of contemporary Christian music artists to appear at Friendship Fest 2006.

Production costs of the event, which is free to all attendees, will be offset by private contributions in the United States and corporate sponsorships in Morocco.

Regional President Doumou hailed the 2005 festival, believed to be the first of its kind in the Arab world, as a resounding success: “We were delighted and honoured when my good friends Harry Thomas and Tim Landis accepted our invitation to come to Marrakech to join with us in celebration of our long-standing friendship with the people of the United States. Over the past three days, we have seen the universal language of music unite our people and cultures in a way that was both gratifying and encouraging for future cultural and economic exchanges.”

Thomas agreed, stating: “We were simply overwhelmed by the warmth of the reception we received from the Moroccan people. Each of the artists performing at the event had stories of new relationships that were developed as a result of Friendship Fest. Those in attendance truly blessed us with their heartfelt encouragement and enthusiastic support.

According to festival organisers, the purpose of Friendship Fest is to “use the universal language of music to bridge cultures and make friends - to show that people of different cultures and faith traditions can be friends and live in harmony with one another.”

When asked for his view regarding whether or not these goals were achieved in 2005, Regional President Doumou responded: “The goals of Friendship Fest were most definitely achieved. We strengthened our relations with our American brothers and sisters and set the stage for ongoing discussions and future cultural exchanges between our countries. We truly believe that this event represented an historic opportunity for Americans and Moroccans to celebrate together, through music, in friendship and peace.”

For more information on the Friendship Festival, go to www.friendshipfest.com.