Rhythms of Morocco: Music and Dance

Gnawa Music

Gnawa music is a spiritual and trance-inducing music that originated from the black African slaves and soldiers who were brought to Morocco by the Arab conquerors. Gnawa music combines elements of Islamic Sufism, pre-Islamic African rituals, and Berber folk music. The main instruments used in Gnawa music are the guembri (a three-stringed lute), the krakebs (metal castanets), and the tbel (a large drum). Gnawa music is performed by a group of musicians called a lila (night), led by a maalem (master), who sings poetic verses in Arabic, Berber, or Bambara. The lila is usually accompanied by a group of dancers called mluk (spirits), who wear colorful costumes and cowrie shells, and enter into a trance state by spinning and swaying to the rhythm of the music. Gnawa music is believed to have healing and therapeutic powers, as it invokes the different spirits that represent natural forces or ancestral figures. Gnawa music is also a form of resistance and identity for the marginalized black community in Morocco.

Andalusian Traditions

Andalusian music is a classical and sophisticated form of music that originated from the Arab-Andalusian civilization that ruled Spain from the 8th to the 15th century. Andalusian music was brought to Morocco by the Muslim refugees who fled from the Spanish Inquisition. Andalusian music is based on a complex system of musical modes called nuba, each corresponding to a time of day, a season, or a mood. Each nuba consists of five movements that vary in tempo, rhythm, and melody. Andalusian music is performed by an orchestra that includes instruments such as the oud (lute), the kamenjah (violin), the kanun (zither), the darbuka (drum), and the taarija (tambourine). Andalusian music is also accompanied by poetic lyrics that are sung in classical Arabic or colloquial Moroccan Arabic. Andalusian music is considered to be the high art of Moroccan culture, and it is often performed in court settings, religious festivals, or cultural events.

Dance Festivals

Morocco hosts many dance festivals throughout the year that showcase the diversity and richness of its musical traditions. Some of the most famous dance festivals are:

• The Festival of World Sacred Music in Fes: This festival is held every year in June in the ancient city of Fes, and it features artists from different religious backgrounds and musical genres who perform sacred music from various traditions, such as Sufi chants, Jewish songs, Christian hymns, Buddhist chants, Hindu bhajans, and more.
• The Gnaoua World Music Festival in Essaouira: This festival is held every year in June or July in the coastal town of Essaouira, and it celebrates the Gnawa culture and music. The festival attracts thousands of visitors who enjoy the performances of local and international Gnawa artists, as well as other musicians who fuse Gnawa music with jazz, rock, blues, reggae, hip hop, and more.
• The National Festival of Popular Arts in Marrakech: This festival is held every year in July in the imperial city of Marrakech, and it showcases the folkloric arts of Morocco. The festival features dancers, musicians, storytellers, acrobats, snake charmers, fire eaters, magicians, and more who display their skills and talents in various venues around the city.

Conclusion

Moroccan music and dance are an expression of the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. They reflect the influences of various civilizations that have shaped Morocco’s history and identity. Moroccan music and dance are also a source of joy, spirituality, healing, and creativity for Moroccans and visitors alike. Whether you are interested in classical or contemporary music styles or traditional or modern dance forms you will find something to suit your taste in Morocco’s musical landscape.