The Gnawa are an ethnic group inhabiting Morocco, that had been brought as slaves from West African Sahel, especially northern Nigeria.
A Gnawa man
Gnaouas from Oran with their guembri.
Gnaoua in a North African Interior
Gnawa from Algiers with his guembri (circa 1906) by Jean Geiser (1848-1923).
Gnawa music is a body of Moroccan religious songs and rhythms. Its well-preserved heritage combines ritual poetry with traditional music and dancing. The music is performed at lila, communal nights of celebration dedicated to prayer and healing guided by the Gnawa maalem, or master musician, and their group of musicians and dancers. Though many of the influences that formed this music can be traced to West African kingdoms, its traditional practice is concentrated in Morocco. Gnawa music has spread to many other countries in Africa and Europe, such as France.
A gnawa street performer wearing traditional gnawi clothing in Rabat's Qasbat al-Widaya
Gnawa singer in Salé, Morocco
Mehdi Qamoum playing the Guembri
A 19th century Gnawa musician, painting by Austro-French Rudolf Ernst (1854–1932)