Gnaoua Festival: Celebrating 25 Years of Essaouira’s Musical Legacy

After spending a few days enjoying the beautiful Moroccan coast last summer, I arrived in Essaouira for the 25th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, joining over 400,000 attendees. Founded in 1998, the Gnaoua Festival was created to highlight and restore Essaouira’s neglected splendor, reclaiming the beauty and cultural richness of Morocco’s music while uniting musicians, artists, and aficionados from Morocco and around the globe.

2024 brought some of the world’s most exciting artists to the stage, from revered Gnaoua master musicians like Maâlem Abdleslam Alikkane, Maâlem Hassan Boussou, and Maâlem Mustapha Baqboub, to contemporary electronic Moroccan-Tunisian duo Aïta Mon Amour, Brazilian artist Ilê Aiyê, flamenco artists Nino de Los Reyes and Sergio Martinez, and many more. Neila Tazi—festival producer, founder of A3 Communications, and one of the most prominent advocates of Gnaoua music internationally—has dedicated years to bringing the Festival to its current global prominence.

 
Francesca, an architect from Rome visiting the festival, remarked how Essaouira’s urban fabric was energized by concerts spread across the city: "As an architect and music lover, I was really struck by how the city’s urban fabric was in synergy with each event, creating intimacy in each space. I felt hosted and gathered by the city through the music."

For its 25th edition, the festival expanded its offerings, partnering with Berklee College of Music for a week of talks and workshops around Essaouira. Additionally, it established a dedicated Gnaoua culture chair in collaboration with the Center for African Studies at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir. These initiatives build upon the festival team's monumental efforts over the past quarter-century, placing Morocco firmly on the global cultural stage and encouraging musicians from Africa and beyond to participate, honoring the Gnaoua heritage.

"When the idea of a collaboration between Berklee and the Gnaoua World Music Festival first emerged, it felt like a natural fit," said María Martínez Iturriaga, Senior Vice President of Berklee Global. "Both institutions share a deep commitment to celebrating and preserving the rich musical traditions of Africa and the African diaspora while fostering spaces where these traditions can engage in dialogue with cultures from around the world. The educational program we launched together last June embodies this vision, serving as a dynamic creative laboratory where musicians from diverse backgrounds learn not only from Berklee’s esteemed faculty but also from one another. We are thrilled to continue this collaboration and eager to witness the new sounds and artistic exchanges that will emerge from this unique learning experience." Berklee has confirmed its participation for the 2025 festival, following their successful inaugural partnership.

Saint Levant’s headline performance was celebrated by fans from diverse backgrounds, delivering a powerful message of Palestinian liberation on the main stage. Marek Razzouk, founder of Abu Recordings and Saint Levant’s manager, highlighted the importance of participating in the festival: "Gnaoua is one of the most fascinating genres to ever come from North Africa. Its fusion of culture and influences transcends borders, and in many ways, Gnawa is our very own jazz."

Razzouk added, "It’s great to support local festivals and initiatives, but we as young artists and budding executives are genuinely grateful for these platforms and opportunities."

A highlight of the festival was the vibrant array of workshops. A standout was the Zaouli Tradition workshop by the Gnaoua Festival team, spotlighting dance and storytelling from the Gouro people of Ivory Coast. The two-hour session drew an audience of all ages and backgrounds, blending storytelling, music, and dance into an unforgettable experience.

"Beyond the impressive lineup, the Zaouli tradition workshop was a joy," shared an attendee. "Learning beginner dance steps with such a diverse crowd was exhilarating and offered a real sense of connection."

The Gnaoua Festival celebrates the convergence of musical communities from Africa and beyond, providing an essential, unique space to learn, dance, and engage in authentic community spirit.

The next Gnaoua and World Music Festival will take place from June 16th to 21st, 2025, in Essaouira.