Gnawa and music Gnawa

gnawa music mixes classical islamic sufism pre-islamic african traditions, whether local or sub-saharan. term gnawa musicians refers people practice healing rituals, apparent ties pre-islamic african animism rites. in moroccan popular culture, gnawas, through ceremonies, considered experts in magical treatment of scorpion stings , psychic disorders. heal diseases use of colors, condensed cultural imagery, perfumes , fright.

gnawas play hypnotic trance music, marked low-toned, rhythmic sintir melodies, call-and-response singing, hand clapping , cymbals called krakeb (plural of karkaba). gnawa ceremonies use music , dance evoke ancestral saints can drive out evil, cure psychological ills, or remedy scorpion stings.

gnawa music has won international profile , appeal. many western musicians including bill laswell, brian jones, randy weston, adam rudolph, tucker martine, robert plant , jimmy page, have drawn on , collaborated gnawa musicians such mahmoud guinia. traditionalists regard modern collaborations mixed blessing, leaving or modifying sacred traditions more explicitly commercial goals. international recording artists such hassan hakmoun have introduced gnawa music , dance western audiences through recordings , concert performances.

the centre gnawa music essaouira in south of morocco gnaoua world music festival held annually. gnawa of marrakesh hold annual festival @ sanctuary of moulay brahim in atlas mountains. gnawa of khamlia hold annual festival in august @ village khamlia in erg chebbi.