For more than 25 years, the Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira has been a key player in Morocco’s cultural economy and a reference across Africa, highlighted Neila Tazi, the Festival’s producer.
Thanks to constant perseverance and a committed plea, the Festival has showcased that culture is not a luxury, but a lever for territorial development, social inclusion and international prominence, Tazi told MAP in an interview, ahead of the 26th edition of the festival, held on June 19-21.
The Festival has played a major role in the emergence of a new sector known as the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), capable of generating economic value, creating sustainable jobs and fostering confidence in the future, she said, adding that this highly promising sector offers one of the most relevant responses to the challenges of employment and growth.
In this regard, she pointed out that culture is increasingly asserting itself as a strategic pillar of Morocco’s diplomacy, adding that through the richness and diversity of its cultural initiatives, Morocco conveys a strong sense of collective energy. The Gnaoua and World Music Festival serves as a powerful illustration of this, embodying a heartfelt, rooted, global and inclusive cultural diplomacy that reflects the values upheld by the Festival with strength and vision.
By showcasing an African heritage deeply rooted in Morocco’s history, the Festival is contributing to the reinvention of forms of an Afro-centered cultural dialogue based on mutual respect, exchange and the reclaiming of a shared memory, while ensuring that Africa is placed at the heart of the narrative, not as an object of folklore, but as a vibrant, creative, spiritual, and political force, she said.
Speaking about the Festival’s remarkable longevity, she pointed out that its secret lies in its ability to balance tradition and transformation, as it has, for 26 years, maintained a delicate equilibrium between the faithful preservation of an ancestral art, that of the Maâlems Gnaoua, and openness to music and influences from around the world.
“This deeply rooted and universal positioning allows the festival to address all generations and all audiences. In a world where cultural preferences are becoming standardized, it defends a uniquely Moroccan identity that proudly embraces its African nature,” Tazi stressed.
As for the Festival’s approach, she stressed that it is respectful above all, since the Maâlems are not “mere guest artists,” but rather the very pillars of the project.
Their art is treated with the dignity it deserves as a form of popular wisdom, spirituality, and resistance. By creating dialogues with other African, Afro-Caribbean, or Western musical traditions, the festival does not dilute the authenticity of Gnaoua; instead, it does, however, projects it onto new stages, expanding it without ever betraying it.
Regarding the Human Rights Forum organized as part of the Festival, Tazi noted that it fully aligns with the Festival’s global vision, transforming it into a genuine space for reflection, dialogue, and civic engagement. For the past 12 years, it has addressed crucial issues such as human mobility, youth, diasporas, women’s status, plural identities, equality, digitalization, and resistance through culture.
Furthermore, speaking about the “Berklee at the Gnaoua and World Music Festival” program, she explained that it serves as a true bridge between world music and international academic excellence. Born from a partnership with the prestigious Berklee College of Music, the program offers a unique platform for dialogue, transmission, and creation between Gnaoua Maâlems and musicians from around the globe.
By integrating Gnaoua music into a recognized educational framework like Berklee’s, this initiative gives it renewed recognition beyond traditional or event-based settings while preserving its essence. It also enables the documentation, analysis, and transmission of this art in academic contexts, thereby helping to preserve it, enrich it, and promote its influence.
Your article beautifully captures the transformative impact of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival on Essaouira’s cultural and economic landscape. For those looking to extend their cultural journey beyond the festival, I highly recommend a visit to Sidi M’Barek. Just a short drive south of Essaouira, this serene village offers lush dunes, cascading waterfalls, and a glimpse into traditional Berber life.
At Around Essaouira
, we offer immersive tours that include guided hikes to the waterfalls, visits to local marabouts, and traditional Berber tea ceremonies. It’s a perfect way to connect with nature and culture beyond the city’s walls.
Thank you for sharing such a comprehensive guide to Essaouira. It’s a destination that offers something for every traveler, and Sidi M’Barek is a perfect addition to any itinerary.