by Geoff | Feb 1, 2020 | Essaouira, Gnaoua, Morocco, Northern Africa, Zaouia
I had tried on three previous occasions to visit Sidna Blal, the zaouia des Gnawa, but the formidable woman who seemed to live there steadfastly refused all my entreaties to enter. Today I visited with this woman’s son, Youssef, a guimbri player training to...
by Geoff | Nov 16, 2019 | Gnaoua, Morocco, Music
“You will fly over the ocean,” he continued, “by the power of baraka, the blessing of Sidi Moulay Brahim, tair lajbal, indicating the spirit bird that flies over the Atlas Mountains” Memoir of a Berber by Hassan Ouakrim The young girl got up from the cushion...
by Geoff | Jun 25, 2016 | Morocco, Northern Africa
Choosing between the sacred and the profane has always been problematic; making that choice at an African music festival is a particularly difficult decision. The Gnaoua and World Music Festival at Essaouira, Morocco, is a unique opportunity to see and enjoy animist...
