Today we’d like to introduce you to Mehdi Abderrahmane.
Hi Mehdi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My cultural background is half Egyptian and French. In 2008, I went to Egypt and Namibia to connect with my roots. There, I met with a Bedouin tribe who live the whole year in the sand dunes. They embraced me and invited me to live amongst them for a week to learn their ways. I was so moved by what I saw I felt inspired to recreate a similar experience in the sand dunes close to Los Angeles.
As an adventure enthusiast, I found myself off-roading in the sand dunes near the town of Brawley, CA. I realized how pristine this environment was and a total hidden gem. It was wild to me that people back in LA had no idea this wonderful environment existed. 118000 acres of sand dunes – the largest dune desert in the US. I knew that this area would be the perfect ground for my idea.
I attended BurningMan several times and saw the huge demand for experiences. People want to have fun, dance to great music, and create life-long memories and friendships. And then it came to me, this idea to blend the bedouin experience, the sand dunes, and the air of bohemian culture. This was how the concept for Wild Nomads Festival was born.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The beginning of the road was the most difficult time in my life. My father passed away and the same day, my airstream eco-retreat in Malibu, AirDream, succumbed to the fires of 2020. I was devastated; I felt like I hit rock bottom and that served as the catalyst for my trip to Egypt.
The conceptualization of the festival is the easy part! Really where the road gets rocky is how to manifest this idea into reality. A big part of the Wild Nomads Festival is the importance of community. We have chosen to keep the headcount limited to roughly 200 attendees so that the experiential portion of the event would be the main focus.
My mind went to work; How would I pull this festival together? Who would help me, and what did I need to recreate this sacred environment?
I reached out to my community and I felt like some portal opened up from the heavens and brought me angels who were inspired by my concept and wanted to support and help manifest my dream into a reality. As we all started to come together, it was almost cosmic the way opportunities and offerings were showing up and this was how I knew I was on a path destined for success.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My passion lies in creating experiences for people. My endeavor in Malibu, AirDream, was a huge success. After many years of travel and putting together events, I developed a talent for really being able to see what aspects of an experience were desired, what aspects were needed and what ideas could put everything over the top to really blow people’s minds! Blending rustic feel in a natural environment, inviting people to harmonize with nature, in solitude or with friends.
How do you think about happiness?
What drives me to do what I do is the community that it creates. People communing together to share their skills and talents under the stars. Wild Nomads stands for so much more than what just a “business” can offer. I steer away from the term “business” because it doesn’t encapsulate the true essence of the Wild Nomads Festival mission; love, collaboration, and purpose.
What makes me the most happy is the guestbook I read at the end of the festival. Many times I have been brought to tears by the messages people write. Those who were able to find solace and peace in the spaces I created so much so that they were moved toward self-betterment and/or reconnection within themselves and the community at large.
What the world needs right now is healing, and to be an active participant in creating special experiences that promote this is all that I need.
Pricing:
- General Admission Tickets are $333
- Full Experience Tickets are $777
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wildnomadsfestival.com
- Instagram: @wild_nomads_festival
