Performance - 5 July 2014
Aziz Sahmaoui & University of Gnawa (Morocco)
Exciting mix of North African and Senegalese rhythms with Gnawa trance
Aziz Sahmaoui grew up in Marrakesh. In this city he absorbed both traditional Berber music as well as the omnipresent music of the Gnawa brotherhoods. The Gnawa music is a fusion of classical Sufi tradition and animistic influences from West Africa. The music is very trance inducing and is said to work therapeutically. There is a close relationship with the music brought to Morocco by the West-African slaves. In the late eighties Sahmaoui emigrated to Paris where he mixed reggae with North African music in his famous Orchestre National de Barbès. University of Gnawa is his next project. Sahmaoui is now experimenting with the combination of North African and Senegalese rhythms with the Gnawa trance. With his band, consisting of Senegalese and Moroccan musicians he reaches exciting heights.

Aziz Sahmaoui, lead vocals, guitar, ngoni, mandole
Hervé Sambe, guitar, vocals
Alioune Wade, bass, vocals
Cheikh Diallo, kora, keyboard, vocals
Adhil Mirghani, percussions, vocals
Jon Grandkamp, drums, calebash

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