Born in 2015, Oasis prides itself on embodying Marrakech by working and establishing long-lasting relationships with local vendors, chefs, and art collectives. But this year, director Marjana Jaidi decided to shake things up by moving the festival to Dakhla, a dreamy destination in Morocco. “Oasis is still gonna happen in Marrakech eventually; Into the Wild is a new concept,” she explains. “This is the nomadic version of it, and the idea is to, once again, embody the destination that it’s in.”
Consequently, Dakhla’s environment has been present throughout the 2-day festival: in the food stalls and gastronomic experiences by Mouton Noir and Lalla Mina, where attendees could savour the area’s famous seafood (veggie options included, of course), or in parallel activities like boat trips and quad rides through the desert. “It’s been really cool to incorporate the surroundings into the festival,” celebrates Marjana. “In the other destination next year, these elements might change because every destination is different, which makes each concept unique. I find that very exciting and challenging.”
What next year’s edition will bring, we don’t know yet. But this edition of Oasis Into the Wild has been exhilarating and surprisingly intimate. Taking place at the Dakhla Club hotel, the one-stage-only structure made it possible for everyone to be together and not miss any of their favourites on the line-up.