Gnawa

"Gnawa" or "Gnaoua" (in Arabic چنّاوة) is a group of musicians who might be descendants of former slaves originating from Sub-Saharan Africa or came freely to Morocco with Caravans during the Trans-Saharan trade trade, or both. Their name in Arabic could possibily indicate that they came from the old Ghana Empire, which has no connection with modern day Ghana. The same word also refers to a small part of these people who are musicians and ritual healers and thus bringing the rite of African animism with them. Gnawas are considered to be experts in the treatment of scorpion stings and psychic disorders. They heal the disease by the use of colors, the perfumes and fright.

List of Gnawa maâlems

• Mahmoud Guinia (the King)- He played with the likes of Pharoah Sanders and Carlos Santana, to name but two. Guitarist Jimi Hendrix spent a few months in his house to take some lessons.
• Brahim Belkane (The traditional)- He played with Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, Adam Rudolph, Randy Weston, and Jimmy Page. He says that "there are many colours on earth: red, green, blue, yellow. You have to find these when you play, to be bright like the sun."
• H'mida Boussou (The grand master)- As a child H'mida immersed himself in Gnawi culture as taught him by the Maâlem Ahmed Oueld Dijja, and became a Maâlem himself at the age of 16. He also worked with Maâlem Sam from 1962 to 1968.
• Chérif Regragui (The communicator)- He became a Maâlem by the age of 18. He worked with Tayeb Saddiki in theatre and he was behind the group Taghada.
• Mahjoub Khalmous - His skills took him to many festivals in Europe. In 1993 he formed his own group and became a Maâlem. He has worked for several years with Professor Bertrand Hell, head of the anthropology department at Besançon University in France.
• Allal Soudani (The dreamer)- His grandparents M'Barkou and Barkatou were brought from Sudan as slaves. "When I play I no longer feel my body, I empty myself. And when I reach the state of trance I become nothing more than a leaf on a tree blowing at the mercy of the wind" he says describing his trance moments.
• Hamid el Kasri - He began his apprenticeship at the age of 7. He has the gift of being able to fuse the music of the north with that of the south: gharbaoui from Rabat, marsaoui from Essaouira and soussi or Berber from the south of Morocco.
• Omar Hayat (The showman)- Tought by Mahmoud Guinea, he created his own group in 1991. His style is particularly influenced by reggae. He participated recently at the festival of Avignon.
• Abelkebir Merchane - He is from an Arab family, none of whom are gnawa. His style is a mixture of marsaoui (Essaouira) and Marrakchi (Marrakech).
• Abdeslam Alikkane and Tyour gnawa - He is a Berber from the region of Agadir. He learnt how to play the krakebs at the age of 9. He is particularly interested in the healing aspect of gnawa. He has performed at many international festivals, playing with Peter Gabriel, Gilberto Gil (currently Brazil's minister of Culture) and Ray Lema.
• Abderrahman Paca - He is one of the founding members of the group Nass El Ghiwane. In 1966 he briefly joined the Living Theatre then two years later met the legendary Jimi Hendrix.
• Mohamed Kouyou - In 1984 he played at the opening of the Moroccan Pavilion at Disney World.
• El Mokhtar Guinea - Son of the great Maâlem Boubker. He is the younger brother of the legendary Mahmoud.
• Mohamed Daoui - He teaches the younger generation of future maâlems for which his reputation has stretched far and wide.
• Abdelkader Benthami - He owes his education to some of the greatest Maâlems such Zouitni.
• Si Mohamed Ould Lebbat - At the age of 18 he began to play with Maâlem Sam, whom he accompanied to festivals in France.
• Ahmed Bakbou - He has worked with some of the great Maâlems - Ba Ahmed Saasaa, El Hachimi Ould Mama, Homan Ould el Ataar, Si Mohamed Ould el Fernatchi.
• Essaïd Bourki - He has his origins in the south of Morocco. He performed with his group in Belgium in 1990.
• Abdellah Guinea (The Marley)- He became a Maâlem at the age of 16.
• Mohamed Chaouki - Formely a horse trainer once worked in the stud farms of Rabat. At the age of 19 he became a maâlem. He formed a group with his brother, sons and nephews with whom he has performed in Europe 18 times.
• Saïd Boulhimas - He is the youngest Gnawi to play at the 7th edition (2004) of the gnawa festival.
• Hassan Hakmoun - By age four, he performed alongside snake charmers and fire-breathers on Marrakech streets. His mother is known throughout the city as a mystic healer. He worked with Peter Gabriel. He is currently based in New York.