world music

Safi Celebrates Gnaoua‍ Heritage with International Festival

Safi, Morocco, is currently hosting the Gnaoua-Samba International Festival, ‌a vibrant​ intercultural exchange running until August 31st ‍in​ partnership with the​ Ministry of Youth, culture and Dialogue. The festival aims to both preserve Morocco’s secular heritage ​and foster the musical fusion and artistic influence characteristic of this “City of the Oceans.”

The festival launched with a colorful parade featuring numerous musical troupes, ​culminating at the “Tagine” site. Attendees were treated to a Gnaouie symphony in the “Kanka” style, a hallmark of the Sahraoui Gnaoui repertoire. The opening ceremony, attended ⁢by local and international cultural officials and figures, also premiered the documentary Gnaoua, ⁢Shaddou Al-Arwah by director Nizar al-rawi, a film⁤ dedicated to Safi and the diverse expressions of Gnaoui art within Morocco.

The festival’s programming showcases a compelling blend of tradition and‌ innovation. Performances included the Gnaoua-Samba group led by Maâlem Abdelkabir Niam, and Maâlem Mohammed Talaq‍ Tyor⁤ from Tangier. The evening ⁢also featured ‌a ⁢concert of customary Irish music, a unique fusion with Aïssaoui art presented by Moqaddem Abderrahim‌ Bouferdi de Safi, and‌ a performance by Maâlem Benâacher Bchebchoub de Salé.

Tributes were paid to prominent figures in Gnaoui⁤ art, including⁣ artist Khalid El Barkaoui, ⁢known for his appearance on the TV‍ program Amalay (produced by Nizar al-rawi), and artist Saâd ammar from Sweden.

Festival director Bilal Loqmari emphasized the event’s role as a‍ platform for dialogue and the party of Gnaoui art, particularly that ⁤of ⁤Safi. He highlighted the importance ⁤of recognizing local‌ Maâlems as the guardians and transmitters of‍ this intangible heritage.⁢ Director Nizar al-rawi, attending from Luxembourg, described Safi⁤ as “a high place of​ artistic inspiration and living memory of the ⁣Gnaoui heritage.”

This 11th⁤ edition also includes an international conference on “The role of cultural diversity and ‌musical heritage in promoting dialogue between peoples,” drawing participants ​from Morocco, Oman, Sweden, Portugal, and Luxembourg. Ghita Rabouli, director of Bayt Dakira in essaouira, noted the conference provides a crucial ​space to reflect on valuing ⁤intangible⁣ heritage as ⁢a catalyst for ​intercultural exchange, emphasizing music’s role as a “universal language of⁤ tolerance and coexistence.”

Complementing the musical‌ performances, an exhibition dedicated to Moroccan heritage, curated⁢ by researcher and collector Hafida sabbahi, is on display, showcasing objects and works that illustrate the authenticity and richness of national culture.

The Gnaoua-Samba International Festival continues ​to solidify its position as a vibrant crossroads for cultural dialogue and artistic fusion, celebrating both the deep‌ roots of gnaouie traditions and their dynamic⁣ interaction with world music.