Essaouira Set to Host Gnaoua Festival of World Music from June 27-29

The Gnaoua and World Music Festival, celebrating its 25th edition, is set to captivate audiences in the historic city of Essaouira from June 27-29. With over 400 talented local and international musicians scheduled to perform on twenty different stages, the festival promises a diverse and vibrant musical experience from the medina to the beach.

Attendees can look forward to dancing to an eclectic mix of rhythms from countries like Spain, Senegal, the US, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Algeria, and Palestine over the course of the three-day event. Neila Tazi, the producer of the festival, expressed her excitement for this special anniversary edition, reflecting on the artistic and human journey the festival has embarked on over the past 25 years.

In a bid to support emerging musicians from Morocco, Africa, and beyond, the festival has announced a new training program in collaboration with Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. This initiative aims to nurture new talent and pave the way for the next generation of musical artists.

Furthermore, as part of the festival’s milestone anniversary celebrations, plans are underway to establish a university chair dedicated to Gnaoua culture at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Benguerir (UM6P) by 2025. This chair, under the guidance of Professor Ali Benmakhlouf, will serve as a platform for in-depth research into the origins and significance of Gnaoua culture.

The festival’s commitment to showcasing diverse musical traditions, fostering new talent, and promoting cultural research underscores its status as a dynamic and forward-thinking event on the global music calendar.