Acrobatic figures, throbbing music and multicolored costumes: dozens of artists paraded, on December 14, to the rhythm of their steel drums and castanets in the streets of Essaouira, in southern Morocco, to celebrate the inscription of their Gnaoua music is part of UNESCO's intangible heritage.
The official recognition of Unesco, announced on December 12, is "a consecration of the pioneering engagement of Essaouira" for the safeguard of this art, welcomes André Azoulay, adviser of king Mohammed VI and president of a very active having made culture a vector for the development of the city.
Crossroads of several civilizations, the ancient Mogador is the cradle of traditional Gnaoua culture. It is in this blue and white citadel, clinging to a rocky peninsula at the edge of the Atlantic, that a gnaoua music festival has been organized since 1997 which attracts waves of fans from all over the world every beginning of summer. For the organizers of the festival, the inclusion of Gnaoua art in UNESCO's intangible heritage is "a tremendous recognition".
>> To see: Paris of the Arts in Essaouira
Echo around the world
Gnaoua music, which combines African rituals and the worship of the saints of Islam, has been perpetuated in Morocco by the descendants of former slaves from sub-Saharan Africa. But before the Essaouira festival, "this culture recognized by big names in the world music scene did not have the place it deserved in the popular Moroccan imagination," said Neila Tazi, producer of the event.
Formerly confined to "lilacs", name given to trance vigils with esoteric rituals reserved for initiates, Gnaoua culture is now finding an echo all over the world. The musical meeting of Essaouira, which offers amazing musical mixes with Latin and African music, saw headliners, such as the jazzmen Pat Metheny, Didier Lockwood or Marcus Miller, who came to perform with the most famous masters of gnaoua music.
Today, in Essaouira, the new generation is ready to take over. The group "Oussoul gnaoua" ("The origins of gnaoua") launched three years ago the festival "Génération gnaoua" which brings together local groups. During this meeting, groups of young people come to play Gnaoua music standards "respecting tradition" before a jury of old Maâlems ("Gnaoua masters"). For everyone, "it's important to preserve this culture and pass it on to future generations," says the young musician.
Newsletter Don't miss anything from international news
Don't miss anything from international newssubscribe
google-play-badge_FR