The gnawa genre is one of the hallmarks of Moroccan folklore. In fact, it has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Therefore, attending a gnawa music performance is presented as one of the best tourist proposals for those most interested in local traditions. But where can this wish be fulfilled? In this post we give you some ideas so that you do not miss the opportunity to enjoy a show of this kind during your trip to Morocco.
Gnawa music and its diffusion in Morocco
Gnawa music is a set of songs and Islamic spiritual rhythms, which originated in sub-Saharan West Africa, by black slaves, many of whom came to the territory of what is now Morocco through the caravan routes. That is why in the south of the country, this genre has greater validity.
This is the case of the desert, where there are still small villages where the presence of black inhabitants is remarkable, settled here since time immemorial. The southern Atlantic coast is also closely associated with this music, as for example Essaouira, where some famous musicians came into contact with this genre, such as Jimi Hendrix.
However, as we will see below, there is also the possibility of witnessing gnawa performances in other parts of the country, albeit on a more ad hoc basis. Take note of the following suggestions.
Khamlia, the black people
One of the places where it is possible to attend a gnawa music performance is in Khamlia, also called the village of the blacks because of the numerous presence of people descended from sub-Saharan slaves. Performances are organized here almost every day, thanks to its proximity to Merzouga and the dunes of Erg Chebbi. In fact, many of our tours in the region include a show of this type in the program.
Essaouira: one more tourist attraction
In Essaouira, gnawa music is in the air. In fact, it can be considered a real tourist attraction, since there are thematic tours on this genre, including instrument stores and continuous references to musicians and anecdotes. In the medina or in its surroundings, there are places where shows are organized. But undoubtedly, the big event is the Essaouira Gnawa Festival, which is organized every year in summer and also includes groups of other twinned styles, such as blues or jazz, as in fact its official name is Essaouira Gnawa and World Music Festival.
Folk festivals in Morocco
In addition to the aforementioned Essaouira Gnawa Festival, other folk festivals are organized throughout the country where gnawa music groups are regular guests. For example, at the Festival of Sacred Music in Fez, sharing the bill with other spiritual genres, such as Sufi music or Sephardic music. And the same goes for the Mawazine Festival in Rabat.
Private actions
And if your trip does not coincide with the dates of such festivals or does not go through the usual performance venues, our agency can organize a gnawa music performance for you: we can contact a group of artists of this musical genre and hold a private show, for example in the halls of a hotel or a venue in any city, such as Marrakech. This can be a perfect activity to put the finishing touch to an event held in the country or to a program where folklore and traditions have a prominent place. So if that is your wish, just contact us and we will get to work to make it possible.
