For three vibrant days, Essaouira was transformed into a global crossroads of sound. On Saturday night, the curtain closed on the 26th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, a celebration rich in emotion, creativity, and cultural exchange. The atmosphere pulsed with spirituality and innovation, bridging ancient traditions and contemporary expression in a city long known for its openness to the world.
This year’s festival drew crowds from across the globe, lured by a dynamic lineup that brought ancestral Gnaoua rhythms into conversation with jazz, funk, blues, electronic music, and more. Throughout the narrow streets and open squares of the coastal city, stages sprang to life in a continuous stream of performances, creating a mosaic of global musical dialogue.
Saturday’s final act on the Moulay Hassan stage featured maâlema Hind Ennaira, whose powerful yet refined performance captivated the audience. A central figure in the new wave of Gnaoua artists, Ennaira delivered with confidence and grace, channeling the tradition’s depth while reshaping it in her own voice—balancing legacy with a forward-looking spirit.
Earlier that evening, a standout collaborative performance brought together maâlems Mohamed Boumazzough and Anas Chlih, joined by musicians from France and Côte d’Ivoire. Traditional Gnaoua instruments like the guembri and qraqebs met the balafon, drums, saxophone, and trumpet in a thrilling fusion built on improvisation and musical conversation. The energy was electric as the crowd slipped into trance-like states, particularly during Boumazzough’s vocal flourishes, which created an immediate connection with the audience.
The emotional weight of the night deepened with the arrival of Hajar El Alaoui, whose evocative voice brought new sensitivity to the performance. Her presence added a poignant layer to the traditional sounds, offering a powerful reinterpretation that felt both intimate and expansive.
Later, Omar Hayat took the stage and guided the audience into a more introspective realm. His gentle delivery and nuanced interpretations evoked memory and emotion, suspending time in a space between nostalgia and presence.
One of the festival’s most electrifying moments came from Cuban group Cimafunk, whose performance injected a wave of Caribbean energy into Essaouira. Their bold fusion of funk, blues, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and electronic beats came with messages of identity and freedom. The high point was an unexpected and organic onstage encounter with maâlem Khalid Sansi. Together, their Afro-Latin and Gnaoua sounds merged in a spontaneous, magnetic blend that brought the house down.
This edition welcomed 350 artists, including 40 maâlems, and featured 54 concerts across Essaouira’s most iconic stages. Alongside the musical programming, the 12th edition of the Human Rights Forum was held in partnership with the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad. This year’s theme centered on human mobility and the cultural dynamics that shape migration and identity.
