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.

References

• Ibiblio.org: Gnawa Stories: Mystical Musician Healers from Morocco
• gnawa at the Moroccan ministery of Communication website
• WorldMusicCentral.org
• PTWMusic.com: gnawa by Chouki El Hamel at Duke University December 1, 2000