"Gnawa Music" by Oumayma El Atify
Gnawa music is one of the distinguished types of Moroccan music. It is often considered a spiritual, religious, and therapeutic type of music. Though Gnawa music is of African origins, it was impacted by Arab-Muslim and Amazigh influences.
Essaouira is well-known for being the "spiritual capital" of Gnawa music, but the music does exist in different Moroccan cities. To celebrate and preserve this type of Moroccan music, a yearly festival is organized at Essaouira and it is regarded as an opportunity in which all performers and practitioners of this music come together.
I cherish and enjoy listening to Gnawa music as it addresses the soul before the mind. It is claimed that Gnawa music has healing powers. For some, this type of music is not only for entertainment purposes but also for "medical" and therapeutic purposes.
The themes of Gnawa songs are not chosen any which way. The lyrics tackle topics like sufferings, hardships, and motivation. That's the reason many resonate with the songs, as they feel that the songs talk about them and represent their daily endeavors and struggles.
I personally feel relaxed and comfortable when listening to this style of music. When I overhear Gnawa music being played, I find myself singing with it and repeating the lyrics over and over, especially if the song talks about motivation and gratitude.
Gnawa, for me, is very powerful music. When it is played in streets and neighborhoods, you find all kids and youngsters gathering around the musicians and singing with them. When I was a kid, my friends and I used to follow Gnawa groups when they come to our neighborhood and some used to give them money as an encouragement for preserving and reviving this musical heritage.
In conclusion, Gnawa, by far, is a significant part of the Moroccan musical heritage. It is fascinating how this style of music has evolved over the years and still finds a place among mainstream music. When I hear Gnawa now, it makes me feel nostalgic and it is reminiscent of my childhood.
Oumayma El Atify is an Assistant Teacher at Amideast/Morocco.
