The Gnaoua Festival attracts more than 400 artists

The management of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira reported that the program of this session (June 27 – 30, 2024) will bring together more than 400 artists from 14 countries, in addition to 53 concerts, in addition to a human rights forum and a training program with the prestigious music institution Berklee College of Music, as well as round tables. About the Gnaoua culture, a joint art exhibition presenting the works of Moroccan artists and many activities around the city.

According to a report received by Hespress, this extraordinary session will open with two prominent acts that will leave a lasting impression: the traditional and joyful opening show that brings together local corners, and a colorful show led by Gnaoua teachers who will roam the squares and alleys of the city to meet the Souairis and festival-goers and celebrate together the launch of the twenty-fifth session.

The opening show will be followed by a unique concert, a musical creation of the festival that will celebrate transatlantic brotherhood by bringing together musicians and dancers from Morocco, Brazil, Spain and Ivory Coast. Flamenco and Zaouli will reveal to festival-goers the similarities between arts coming from different horizons.

The above-mentioned source stated that this show, for the first time, will witness the exceptional meeting between three artistic genres included on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage (Gnaoua, flamenco and Zaouli), where two “masters” Hassan Bousso and Moulay Tayeb Dahabi will mix their spiritual flavors with the rhythms of the committed Brazilian group. “Eli Aye”, a wonderful band of percussionists promoting the African component of Bahian music.

The “Domanly” group, which practices zaouli – the Ivorian folk art that combines in the same performance mask, costume, music and dance – will face flamenco artist Nino de los Reyes, accompanied by percussionist Sergio Martinez. A mixing party that everyone is anticipating, which will undoubtedly mark the history of the festival. Once again, the programming of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival has been carefully designed to present a wide range of musical genres and artists and embrace a demanding and popular selection.

The festival offers a bold and comprehensive program, which is the distinctive feature of this event, which offers its patrons and fans, each session, a unique experience in the world. This year, the festival is expected to attract more than 400,000 visitors from about forty countries and all over Morocco.

According to the same report, Hassan Bousso is considered the legal heir to the talent of his father, the great “teacher,” the late Hamida Bousso. His mastery of his art led him, years ago, to travel around the world to give concerts, whether with his traditional band “Boso Kanka” or with the visual band “Siwari” which he founded in France.

He added: “Teacher Hassan Bousso is also considered one of the Gnawis who is open to different musical schools and various artistic genres, which has enabled him to create artistic productions of the utmost precision and mastery. However, Taknawit, in its originality, remains, for him, the reference and starting point from which he builds his artistic dialogues, drawing inspiration and extrapolation, at the same time, from the richness of Western repertoire.”

Boussou, the source stresses, “is one of the loyal Gnawis of the festival who, every year, dazzles the audience with their strong and generous performance, as everyone still remembers the great exceptional concert he performed in the company of one of the pioneers of American free jazz, Jamal Eddine Takouma, in 2016, on the occasion of the 19th session.”

In 2017, on the occasion of the Gnaoua International Festival tour, Hassan gave an exceptional performance at the famous “Bataclan” theater in Paris, and received an unparalleled welcome from the audience during the mixing ceremony that he brought together with “The Master” Mustapha Baqbou, the artist Hendi Zahra, Mehdi Nasoli, Tony Allen, Karim Ziad, and Titi Robin. .

During this year’s edition, the festival’s audience will meet “the teacher” Hassan Busso in an exceptional opening ceremony, alongside the Domanli Group, Nino de los Reyes, Sergio Martinez and Eli Ayi.

Moulay Tayeb Dahabi was born in 1979 in Marrakesh. He grew up and grew up among a distinguished Gnaoui family. He learned the foundations of Gnaoui art from his father, the teacher Moulay Abdel Latif. He also learned from other teachers such as Mohamed Kouyou, Abdel Kabir Ben Saloum, Mahjoub Al-Khalamoussi, Hassan Zoukari, and Hajj Boudjemaa.

The report also stated that Moulay Tayeb Dahabi is distinguished by his great mastery of the rhythms of the Gnaoui heritage, which allowed him to participate in many festivals alongside great artists. In 2018, he participated, along with young Marrakesh “teachers,” in performing a large concert on the Moulay El Hassan stage at the Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira.

As the first purely African rhythm group in El Salvador and the innovator of the “samba reggae” style, Eli Aye revolutionized “Bahia” music and brought African influences back into its carnival. This legendary group has become an inspiration for many figures of African origin in Brazil, as have their godfathers, Alberto Gil, Margaret Menez, and Carlinos Brown.

In the early 1970s, the source states, the two young men, Fufo and Apoliño, from the Crusoe Liberdade neighborhood, launched an initiative aimed at an Afro-Brazilian renaissance similar to the “American Black Power” movement. James Brown and Bob Marley were their inspirations and role models, wanting to revive and awaken Awareness of black people through organizing demonstrations and cultural forums such as condomblé, avocado (in its musical aspect), capoeira, and others. These are arts that have been intentionally marginalized by the ruling authorities, who are mainly white.

The report continued: “Starting from the recording of one of their songs by Alberto Gil (the album “Rufavilla”) to the song “Caetano Veloso,” which celebrates the group, Elie Aye’s popularity and fame has increased over time. Despite the passage of five decades since its establishment and its strength with its three thousand members, the band, which is currently considered a “human historical heritage,” still inspires the community and new generations. The Dimanli Group was founded in 1912. It is an artistic group made up of actors, dancers and musicians, most of whom were trained at the National Higher Institute of Arts and Cultural Action (INSAAC).

The same source said: “The band is working on creating choreographic productions whose themes are inspired by the cultural heritage of Ivory Coast.” “The Dimanli Group, directed by the choreographer Herman Nkoko, is distinguished by its great ability to introduce authentic local heritage values ​​​​on the international stage, as it explores the Zaouli, the popular music and dance practiced by the Goro community (central-west Ivory Coast), which is included in the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” .

According to the organizing body. Al-Zawli’s practice, in the show itself, combines mask sculpture, fashion weaving, music and dance. Her performances include songs, rhythms and movements to create positive energy that soothes souls. In 2013, the Dimanli Group won the award of the 19th edition of the National Festival “Vacons Quilter”, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Francophonie.

She also participated in the Ouagadougou International Dance Festival with her artistic project “Balahun” (which means leopard men), the Beijing Festival with her show “Meeting of Masks,” and in the Carthage Theater Days with her show “The World of the Comians.” In 2022, she toured in Germany and the Netherlands.

To introduce Benigno, the report said that “he is currently considered a rising star in the art of contemporary flamenco and the first dancer to win the famous Grammy Award for the best Latin jazz album: “Ontidot,” which he signed in collaboration with one of the legends of jazz, the artist Chick Corea. The latter had previously invited him to the big party he organized at the Blue Note Club and Madison Square in New York City, USA, on the occasion of his seventy-fifth birthday.

According to the source, Niño took the stage with artists such as Joaquin Grillo, Milagros Menjibar, Antonio Reyes and his brother Isaac de los Reyes. He also collaborated artistically with Paul Simon on the latter’s album entitled “Stranger to Stranger.”

As for Sergio Martinez, he is considered one of the most famous Spanish percussionists on the international artistic scene. He developed his talent and developed his path as a multi-talented artist by working alongside leading international musicians such as Paul Simon, Aldi Meola, John Pattonchi, Joe Lovano, and Terry Lynn Carrington… and he participated, along with his friends Danilo Perez, Jamey Haddad, and Jose Antonio Galicia, in the largest international jazz festivals and in the most famous international music forums.