The Gnawa are descendants of former slaves from areas of sub-Saharan Africa (Niger, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, etc.) that the Arabs and the Berbers of Morocco and Algeria found in West Africa . Although some researchers find the roots of spirituality in voodoo, the Gnawa are now Muslim mystical brotherhoods best known for their musical style, one of the main genres of Moroccan folklore.
Their name derives from the word GUINEA (former Empire of western Sudan), even if only part of the population comes from this region of Africa. In the Maghreb, the word "Sudani" is used to refer to all of sub-Saharan black Africans or people and, by extension, means "slave or descendant of slaves," regardless of the country of origin (and not only Sudan). The term "ABDE or ABID" clearly means "slave or descendant of a slave or a person with black skin."
They were then mixed with the local population and were trained in guilds (with a master and a particular style of dress) to create a music and worship mixing African traditions and Arab-Berber, and musical and spiritual expressions pre -Islamic. These brotherhoods, rooted in Moroccan culture, explain the creativity and vitality to the success of Moroccan Gnawa with their fellow tourists and musicians in the West.
Dancing and singing Gnawa have a mystical-religious aspect. With their "krakeb" (cymbal metal) and percussion, singers and dancers can sometimes go into a trance. The style is captivating and their folklore is beautiful and fertile.
In Morocco, the cradle of Gnawa music is quite unique in the region of Essaouira, where there is also Gnawa and Berber Jew.
For economic reasons, some Gnawa (which are not all "Maalem" masters of music and mystical ceremony) of Morocco ritual come to present their music to a wider public Moroccan inspired by the troops of acrobats can be seen in the Jemmaa el Fna square in Marrakech or in the "Moussem" (regional religious celebration), they will develop and invent tricks (which are not part of the ritual) and enrich their dresses bright dresses, hats with a long tassel, the "gri-gri" white sewn on the dress and hat to attract, entertain and distract the public. Outside Essaouira and before they become renowned Gnawa has long been regarded as buskers.
The sole Morocco, Gnawa music is now represented by women's groups Essaouira (called "Mqadamate" feminine "Maalem"). Their music is played with "darbukas" metal trays and sometimes "krakeb" but "Gambra" is not played today. Their clothes resemble those of men and their dance is compatible with this form of ritual .
This kind of music is, with some differences, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Libya, with specific to each of these country names. However, unlike in Morocco, where relatively accurate information available, different types of Gnawa in these other countries show shadows and varying degrees, both historical, cultural and social. The Gnawa rituals are surrounded by an element of mystery and access to "lilac", the ritual of possession syncretic remains private.
Many Moroccan and musical traditions of the world, such as the fusion of jazz, blues, reggae, rap, chaabi, rai, or were inspired by the Gnawa musical heritage to enhance their work. Thus, the great Moroccan classics, such as "Allah, Allah Moulana" are found in many compositions.
