Making its comeback after eased Covid-19 restrictions, The Gnaoua world music festival is bringing its artists on a tour in four Moroccan cities, beginning with its home in Essaouira, followed by Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat.
Between June 3-24, the festival that made a name for itself in the international festival scene will celebrate this year the inclusion of Gnaoua in the UNESCO list of Intangible World Heritage with artists who will bring the throbbing rhythms of gnawa, the harmonies of jazz and all that’s in between to scenes across the Atlantic coast.
Essaouira: Opening Round
On June 3-4, Essaouira will be honored first with a fusion that brings together Malian artist Vieux Farka Touré, nicknamed “Hendrix of the Desert” Abdel Salam Alikan, accompanied by Berber music artist Aziz Ouzouss.
Jazz art will also be present through the participation of the artist Jamaluddin Tacoma who revolutionized and redefined the artistic potential of the bass instrument and who will be accompanied by drummer Gonny Biraj, and Kelvin Bell.
The teacher Said Boulahimas and The Guinea family will have a strong presence through two concerts, performed by Mokhtar and Hossam.
Marakesh: Al Gnaouia
The Red City will receive the torch on June 9, and at the Megarama theater, the audience will enjoy the presence of the two great masters of Gnaoua, Abdelkabir Marshan, and Mustafa Bagbou.
A group of musicians united by common energy and passion: Zahra Hindi, an exceptional Haitian saxophonist, Joy Omisil, Senegalese Cheikh Diallo with his kora, Burkinabe percussionist Yaya Ouattara, Herve Samp from Senegal, and Algerian drummer Karim Ziad.
On June 10 veteran master Gnaoui, Abdel Razzak Al Hader will be invited to participate with three musicians from the new generation, in the center of the stars of Jamaâ El Fna.
The city of Marrakesh will be the stage for five concerts, 2 fusions and 3 purely Gnaoua concerts.
Casablanca: Mixture and Vitality
The city of Casablanca will host the Festival on June 16- 17. The Mohammed V complex will witness a prominent musical rendezvous, in the presence of Gnawi master Hassan Boussou, who will be accompanied on stage by the English singer and folklorist Pierce Faccini, prominent Moroccan singer Sakina Fahsi, two of the world’s music creators, drummer Cyril Atef, and multi-instrumentalist Malek Ziad.
the celebration continues, with Ismail Rahil joining the Assala Trio.
In Arab-Andalusian music with the rhythms of the Moroccan south, a trio composed of drummer Karim Ziad, pianist Emery Moore, and Gnaoua representative in Morocco Mehdi Nasouli, supported by Joy Omesel’s saxophone.
The conclusion of this evening will witness a merger of two Continents through the Gnaoua rhythms of the Oval master Khaled Sansi, and the Cuban rhythms of CimaFunk.
Rabat: Conclusion with Jazz Rythmes
In Rabat, the art of jazz will be announced as a special guest for Gnawa, this art allows the guembri instrument to express and create in a way that resembles magic.
The concert will start with the presence of the bass player and the singer and composer Avichai Cohen who is considered one of the pillars of contemporary Jazz, will meet on stage with Hamid El Kasri, Emile Birani, and Vincent Parisien, with Moroccan singer Nabila Maan. The conclusion of the festival will be with the Afro-Gnaoua Blues band Majid Bekas.
More than 150 artists representing nearly 15 countries will be on a date to unleash their talents and share with the audience their passion for music.
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