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Gnaoua music has its origins in
sub-saharan Africa. Black slaves from Senegal, Sudan and Ghana, who were taken
to Morocco in former centuries brought it here.
Their ecstatic dances remind of the voodoo cult. Gnaoua music has a great
socio-psychological importance, as it is supposed to heal diseases.
In Essaouira the tradition of Gnaoua music dates back to the 16th century,
when Sudanese slaves were brought to the Haha territory. This is the first
Gnaoua of Essaouira and its language is berber.
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In 1760, with the
construction of the harbour and the medina, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah brought
a lot of slaves to Essaouira. Their songs tell about the painful march through
the Sahara desert and the sufferings of slavery “Ouled Banbara”.
A part of the Gnaoua
of Essaouira comes from the Senegalese of the colonial times. In Morocco, a gnaoua
group always consists of the master (maâlem) and the musicians. The instruments they
use are the guimbri, a long lute with three strings, the qarqba, large, metal
castanets and the tabal, a cylindrical, wooden drum. The traditional gnaoua
performance is called Lila. It is a strictly organized gnaoua night with
traditional meals, dances and of course music. The first part is profan and
tells about the history of the ancestors (Oulad Banbara-children of the Banbara), further on, the musicians show their dancing abilities.
The second, sacral
part of the night tries to set the participants into Trance. Normally a Lila
is held with special occasions, but it is also common that a Gnaoua group is
invited for a private Lila. The belief in the power of Gnaoua music to heal
diseases or to influence fate is still very strong.
Since Gnaoua music
has got worldwide importance, the style got more free and was often combined
with other styles. The music performance and not the “religious” meaning
is the most important.
Anyway, Gnaoua music
has always been a very lively music and seeing a Gnaoua performance is an
unforgettable experience.
The Gnaoua festival
of Essaouira, which this year is from 11th to 17th of June, is maybe the best
example for a modern Gnaoua performance, which still holds on tight to its
origins.
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