Gnaoua music is no longer the preserve of veteran maalems. A new generation of Moroccans is embracing the centuries-old tradition, helping ensure its survival while giving it renewed relevance.
The traditional opening parade of the 27th Gnaoua and World Music Festival, held in Essaouira from June 25 to 27, highlighted the growing presence of young practitioners performing alongside experienced Gnaoua masters.
Young performers marched through the city carrying flags, beating drums, chanting and moving in rhythm with their maalems. Some were accompanied by their own children, illustrating how the tradition continues to be passed from one generation to the next.
For Achraf, a member of the Rihab Gnaoua group from Safi, Gnaoua represents far more than music.
“It is a form of escape,” he told Hespress English. “I found myself through it and learned many things.”
Achraf described the centuries-old tradition as a source of both mental and physical well-being, adding that learning directly from Gnaoua masters has shaped both his artistic and personal life.
“We grew up with it and built our lives around it,” he said.
His mentor, Maalem Noureddine, whom Achraf considers a father figure, said passing Gnaoua on to younger generations is essential to preserving Morocco’s cultural heritage.
He said the same principle applies to other traditional Moroccan musical practices, including Issawa, Jilala and Hmadcha, whose continuity also depends on transmitting knowledge to younger practitioners.
Many aspiring musicians begin learning simply by accompanying maalems during performances, Noureddine said. During the festival’s opening parade, several children performed alongside their fathers, with some already demonstrating familiarity with the music despite their young age.
This year’s festival brought together 43 maalems from across Morocco and hundreds of artists from around the world.
Festival co-founder Neila Tazi said the event aims not only to preserve Gnaoua heritage but also to create opportunities for younger generations to learn, develop their skills and ensure the tradition’s future.
While Gnaoua music has historically been transmitted through oral tradition and apprenticeship, dedicated initiatives and music schools have increasingly begun teaching its musical and technical foundations, broadening access for younger generations while helping safeguard one of Morocco’s most distinctive cultural traditions.
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