The prefecture of Casablanca-Anfa, where the show is to take place on June 21, has "notified a refusal to organize the concert but without giving justifications," told AFP an executive of the organization on condition of anonymity.
"We are still negotiating with them (local authorities)," he added.
Very popular in Morocco, Booba --Elie Yaffa of his real name-- is implicated on Moroccan social networks for having made "degrading remarks towards Moroccan and North African women" in some of his songs.
In addition, a call on the networks for a sit-in against his visit scheduled Friday in Casablanca did not materialize, noted an AFP journalist.
"The concert was not authorized by the authorities of Casablanca, the sit-in in front of the wilaya (prefecture) was therefore no longer of interest," justified to AFP the identitarian movement "Moorish", at the origin of the call to demonstrate.
"We are content to observe the evolution of the situation and we will not hesitate to reorganize one (sit-in) if necessary," warned the same source.
In a video posted Monday on Twitter, the rapper said he was "waiting for news of the concert in Morocco".
"Normally it is maintained. If it was cancelled, it would be really regrettable," Booba said, accusing Moroccan-born French rapper Maes and Maître Gims, who lives in Morocco, of being behind the boycott campaign.
Maes, a former protégé of Booba, had urged his Twitter followers to sign a petition to cancel the show in Casablanca, which has so far garnered nearly 4,500 signatures.
The Club of Lawyers in Morocco, a professional association, has filed a complaint against Booba "for defamation and insults against Moroccan women," confirmed to AFP its president Mourad Eladdi, without further details.
Among the rapper's maligned tracks: "E.L.E.P.H.A.N.T", title where the star raps "little Moroccan girl slaps Berlusconi", in reference to a Moroccan nicknamed Ruby who had participated in the "bunga bunga" parties of the former Italian "Cavaliere" when she was a minor.
But also "Génération assassin", when Booba sings: "I go to the Chiche only for the beurettes".
© 2023 AFP