This June, the Gnaoua and World Music Festival returns to Essaouira for its 26th edition, celebrating musical daring, cultural fusion, and the transmission of tradition. For over a quarter of a century, this iconic event has transformed the city’s historic medina into a vibrant stage where ancient Gnaoua rhythms meet musical influences from every corner of the globe.
This year, the festival deepens its cultural mission through key partnerships. With Berklee College of Music, it’s expanding opportunities for young musicians, offering training that bridges tradition and innovation. Meanwhile, a collaboration with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is giving rise to a new academic chair focused on cultural cross-pollination. These efforts push the festival’s impact beyond performance, anchoring it in education and critical discourse.
The opening night sets the tone with a powerful collaboration: Gnaoua master Maâlem Hamid El Kasri joins forces with Senegal’s Bakalama troupe, renowned for their explosive percussion and dance. Vocalists Abir El Abed and Kya Loum add a lyrical dimension to the performance, weaving a sonic bridge between Morocco and Senegal. Their set promises a visceral fusion of Gnaoua trance and Senegalese sabar drumming.
One of the most anticipated moments is the meeting between Maâlem Houssam Gania and American drummer Marcus Gilmore. Gania, the son of legendary Maâlem Mahmoud Gania, carries the weight of his lineage into a dynamic exchange with Gilmore, a key figure in contemporary jazz. Together, they explore the tension and harmony between rooted tradition and improvisational freedom.
Another highlight brings Maâlem Mohamed Boumezzough to the stage with an eclectic international ensemble. The performance blends the earthy pulse of the balafon with jazz guitar, saxophone, and soaring vocals. Featuring Malian virtuoso Aly Keïta, guitarist Anas Chlih, saxophonist Martin Guerpin, and singer Hajar Alaoui, the set reimagines Gnaoua rhythms through a cosmopolitan, jazz-infused lens.
The lineup also includes global afrobeats sensation CKay, whose breakout hit “Love Nwantiti” catapulted him onto the international stage. With multiple award nominations and wins, including at the BRITs, BET, and BMI Awards, CKay brings a distinctly modern energy to the festival. His music—emotive, rhythmic, and infused with both melancholy and joy—adds a Lagos pop flair to Essaouira’s eclectic soundscape.
Since its founding in 1998, the Gnaoua and World Music Festival has never wavered from its core mission: to make music a space of experimentation, memory, and creative exchange. By nurturing artists, investing in knowledge, and sparking unexpected collaborations, it has helped build a thriving cultural ecosystem—rooted in Morocco and open to all of Africa.
