Gnawa

The Gnawa (French: Gnaoua, Arabic غناوة, DMG Gnawa ) are an ethnic minority in Morocco, descendants of from the western sub-Saharan Africa originating slaves. The Gnawa bear certain traits of a Sufi brotherhood ( tariqa ).

Beliefs

According to their origin, the Gnawa combine beliefs of Islam with pre-Islamic practices of Sub-Saharan Africa, especially from the ancient kingdom of Mali. The spiritual powers in their particular national Islamic tradition called al - mluk (the " haves" ), since they can take possession of human beings. Among the powerful spirits include in the Islamic faith widespread jinn ( ǧnūn Pl, Sg ǧinn male, female. Ǧinnīa ). Djinn are generally not individualized enough to have their own name. In Morocco, there is the belief in ghosts named only among the Gnawa and as an exception to the Sufi Order of Hamadscha in which the female spirit beings Aisha Qandisha is worshiped. The Gnawa give their djinn a special rank and assign them to specific colors, smoke, dance and melody forms. The dances can make a symbolic meaning which can be understood as a ritual repetition of an African cosmogony. In the repetition of cosmic events from the very beginning of the world is given a fine.

Music and Ritual

Have become known the Gnawa, especially given the rhythmic, music. The three main instruments are TBAL ( beaten with sticks barrel drum ), Sintir ( long-necked lute, sound can be a turtle shell ) and Gimbri ( three-stringed long-necked lute with a rectangular sound box made of wood), to the metal vessel rattle Qarqaba comes (Pl. Qaraqib ). The music has its original function at night Purple or Derdeba ritual. In this important ceremony, which consists of music, dance, ritual taboos and animal sacrifices and can last twelve hours evil spirits are expelled and called others. They met at the individual level the therapeutic purpose of self-healing for the participants who fall into a trance, with the memory of their black African roots. For the community, this ceremony is considered as a symbolic repetition of the creation of the world.

The music created here is particularly well maintained in and around Essaouira, where the annual Gnawa Festival. In the meantime concert form and separated from its ritual context it became a magnet for musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Peter Gabriel and Joe Zawinul. In the band Gnawa Diffusion from Grenoble magic -born French Gnawaeinflüsse mix with rock and reggae. On the basis of Gnawa music, a practice of painting and sculpture, which is determined by magical-fantastical notions originated.

In jazz, the Gnawa music has now been rezipiert wide. For example, the pianist Randy Weston and the saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp recordings with Gnawa musicians have made.