essaouira gnaoua & world music festival

The annual Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival is a celebration of the mysterious music of the Gnaouas, the product of a mystic tradition with branches as widespread as Haitian voodoo and Brazilian Candomblé.

Artists appearing include the best musicians of the genre as well as performers from around the world. There are two main outdoor stages, three more in the medina, two for acoustic acts and two for late fusion/electro performances.

Starting from a cross-pollination of African magic and Islamic rituals, the Gnaoua brotherhoods form a structured unit around a master. He leads the music and dancing until the participants are in a trance induced by the mesmeric rhythms of the drums, the guenbri and the hand-held garagab). During religious ceremonies, Gnaouas have been known to impale themselves on swords or beat their heads with iron balls without sustaining visible external injury. However, the Essaouira Festival does not feature such extreme performances: the programme focuses on the purely musical elements of Gnaoua tradition and their influence on African-inspired musicians.

The Festival takes place annually during June.

You can see this festival on the below tour

Tour name

Camels, Souks & Kasbahs: 15 days
Starts/Ends: Tangier
Rock the Kasbah! Wander through the labyrinthine souks of Fes and Marrakech, experience the Sahara on camelback,and then chart Roman ruins at Volubilis. Fifteen colourful days of spicy aromas, bustling bazaars, awesome mountains, sights and stunning beaches.

Departs

31 May 2008,
14 June 2008

On the go is a specialist operator of group tours, organised treks and overland adventure expeditions by truck in the Kingdom of Morocco. Fun, adventure-fuelled tours and camping expeditions with frequent departures from both Marrakech and Tangier at realistic prices include highlights such as the imperial cities of Fes, Meknes and Marrakech including Djemaa El-Fna, Roman Volubilis, Gorge du Ziz, Merzouga including Sahara Desert camel safaris, Todra Gorge and the High Atlas, Ait-Benhaddou, coastal Essaouira, Chefchaouen and Rif Mountain. We also offer tailor-made holidays to Morocco as well as trips of special interest such as following the Berber migration.