Qraqeb and drums set Essaouira's rhythm at Gnawa Festival opening

Essaouira's ancient city buzzed with energy as the 27th Gnawa and World Music Festival kicked off on Thursday. Moroccans and international visitors alike gathered along the main square to witness the opening procession, a colorful spectacle celebrating diverse Moroccan arts, from Gnawa music to Hammadcha and Issawa performances.

The procession began at Bab Doukkala, with the distinctive sound of "Qraqeb" (metal castanets) and drums filling the air. As the flags of various troupes appeared, the audience was captivated by the rhythmic beats and the visual display of traditional Sufi orders. Each Gnawa troupe, followed by similar ensembles, presented a unique musical greeting, prompting attendees to capture the moment with their phones or simply stand in awe.

The festival, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage of Humanity, is more than just an auditory and visual feast. Incense smoke wafted through the procession, accompanying the chants and music of Gnawa singers and other Sufi orders, creating an immersive atmosphere. This public display brings these musical traditions out of more private spaces, highlighting the diversity in performance styles, attire, and instrumentation.

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Essaouira is an authentic and living experience, it has become an international rendezvous that people await from around the world, bringing them together through more than just music; because the meeting is possible, and because difference is an opportunity for acquaintance, not an obstacle.

This year's procession also reflected the evolving nature of Gnawa and other Moroccan arts, embracing musical openness and societal changes. Notably, women are increasingly visible, some playing the "Qraqeb" with a martial flair, while others are integrated within the musical ensembles. Young performers were also prominent, carrying the "Qraqeb" and embodying the continuation of the art form across generations. Performers from Safi, including a "Maalem" (master) and his son, expressed their gratitude, stating that the festival and the attention it brings have saved Gnawa from extinction, securing a bright future for the art.

Concluding at Place Moulay Hassan, the procession led to the festival's opening ceremony. Naïla Tazi, the festival's director and producer, delivered remarks in Arabic and English. She described Essaouira as an "authentic and living experience" that has become an international rendezvous, uniting people through more than just music. Tazi emphasized that this celebration of connection and the richness of diversity is a "Moroccan choice," supported by the "continuous royal patronage" of the King of Morocco. She noted how young people navigate tradition and modernity, the local and the global, moving between languages, cultures, and civilizations, constantly innovating ways of living together. In the face of global complexities, Essaouira undertakes a mission for collective memory, supporting the preservation of the "Maalem" heritage and the training of new generations of artists.

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This annual event and the attention given to Gnawa have saved this art from extinction, and now it has a bright future.