Amidst desert landscapes, sandy beaches, and rocky medinas a festival emerges, bringing a city alive with eclectic music, traditional culture, vivid colours, and an overwhelming sensory experience. This is the Gnaoua World Music Festival.
Since 1998, the festival is held each year in the popular beachfront vacationing spot of Essaouira. The goal of the festival is to bring artists from all walks together to share with the Gnaoua (or Gnawa) musicians.
Visitors each year flock here for the enjoyable, mystical atmosphere—this is how the festival achieves its goal of keeping the heritage alive. Held in summer annually, the festival brings the quiet Essaouira to life with almost half a million visitors.
The 2023 edition of the Festival Gnaoua will be held in June, Read on for what to expect at the festival
Table of Contents
The Music of Gnaoua Festival
Traditionally, the festival has been about bringing foreign artists together with the mysticism of local Gnaoua musicians.
In recent years, blues, jazz, reggae, and hip-hop have joined the mix to create a truly eclectic experience for any taste.
For four days, you will experience a thrumming, living community of music lovers.
As many aspects of the festival are free to all, it is difficult to compare the Gnaoua World Music Festival with others around the world—it is a sheer takeover of Essaouira and impossible to escape if you are in the area.
Even with the eclectic mix that will be offered, the roots of this festival remain its focal point. The music style of Gnawa is a traditional North African sound, with hypnotic rhythms and heavy bass with repetitive, trance-like chanting that could last for hours.
It was traditionally used during healing ceremonies and celebrations, and is accompanied by acrobatic dancing and brightly coloured outfits.
One of the most sensory experiences at the festival would be watching a lila. It is a ritual and a performance merged together, and will excite all your senses with sound, lights, dance, and the smell of incense.
It is a must-see part of the festival. Like a lot of Gnawan rituals, the performance is led by a maâlem, creating the rhythm for chanting, burning incense, and leading the troop.
The main music venue is the Moulay Hassan Square, where artists will collaborate each evening of the festival. Performances are also held near the beach and on multiple other famous sites around the city.
So no matter your tastes, the music offered here will surely suit you.
Experience Essaouira
After the main shows are over for the day, you can experience the rest of what Essaouira has to offer. Walk down to the docks, or take a break on the sandy beaches, some of the best in Morocco.
Play some water sports and try your hand at surfing along the luxurious waterfront. Take a cooking class, visit an art gallery, or learn something more about Moroccan culture at one of the free lectures offered around the city—you will even receive a free mint tea!
Stroll the medina, wander the souks, and grab some freshly caught seafood from the fish market.
Keep a watchful eye when in the city at its busy times as shop owners and scams tend to get much more aggressive during peak seasons and during celebrations such as this.
Be firm when you say no, and haggle the price down, as you can be sure that it has been raised for the Gnaoua Music Festival in the first place. Pickpockets are also on the prowl as unaware tourists are the perfect target.
Before You Go
Plan early, because when 500,000 people bear down on one city, you can be sure accommodations and airfare fill up fast.
For travelers that are coming from another area of Morocco, think about getting a shared bus to take you to the city.
If your desire is to stay in a traditional riad, book far in advance as these are a hot commodity for visitors. Or, start exploring alternative accommodations options such as VRBO, Airbnb, or Couchsurfing to find a great place to stay at a low price.
Browse the web for a few minutes and make a plan. Grab tickets, peruse a map, check out the venues, join the online community, and download the mobile app all at the Gnaoua World Music Festival’s official site.
Although the festival is free, tickets to certain events can get you front and centre access. And be sure to use an app like Duolingo to brush up on a few basic French phrases, as it is heard much more often than English in Morocco.
Overall, the Gnaoua World Music Festival is intended to delight festival goers and bring joy and understanding to the culture of Gnawan music and traditions.
This sensory music festival in Morocco is a highlight for the traveler that loves action, music, lively crowds, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the Gnaoua World Music Festival held?
A: The festival is held annually in the summer, with the 2023 edition taking place in June: from 22 to 24 June 2023
Q: What is Gnawa music?
A: Gnawa music is a traditional North African sound characterized by hypnotic rhythms and heavy bass, with repetitive, trance-like chanting that can last for hours. It was traditionally used during healing ceremonies and celebrations, and is accompanied by acrobatic dancing and brightly colored outfits
Q: What kind of music can I expect at the festival?
A: The festival features diverse music genres such as North African Gnawa music, blues, jazz, reggae, and hip-hop.
Plan Your Visit to Essaouira
Explore the sights, sounds, and tastes of this vibrant city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Check out our guide to Essaouira for insider tips on where to stay, what to eat, and what to see and do.