By LeSiteinfo with MAP
The opening concert of the 25th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, which will be held from June 27 to 29 in Essaouira, will be marked by an unprecedented fusion between three cultures classified as UNESCO intangible heritage, indicate the organizers.
Thus, this special edition which will bring together more than 400 artists from 14 countries, offers some 53 concerts, a human rights forum, a training program with the prestigious musical institution Berklee College of Music, round tables on Gnaoua culture, as well as a large exhibition of renowned Moroccan artists, in addition to numerous activities across the city, underline the organizers in a press release.
“This exceptional edition will open with two highlights which will leave a lasting impression, notably the traditional and thunderous opening parade bringing together all the brotherhoods present. It is a colorful spectacle, led by the Maâlems Gnaoua as they stroll through the streets to meet Souiris and festival-goers, in order to celebrate together the launch of the 25th edition,” they explained.
The parade will be followed by a unique concert, a musical creation of the Festival which will celebrate transatlantic fraternity by bringing together musicians and dancers from Morocco, Brazil, Spain and the Ivory Coast.
According to the same source, it is a true musical and visual experience, an explosion of rhythms mixing the genres Gnaoua, Brazilian Batucada, Flamenco and Zaouli to put their similarities into perspective.
“This show will also mark, for the first time, the extraordinary meeting between 3 genres classified on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage (Gnaoua, Flamenco and Zaouli),” underline the organizers.
The great Malem Hassan Boussou and the fiery Maâlem Moulay Tayeb Dehbi will exchange their spiritual notes with their Brazilian alter-egos, the very committed Ilê Aiyê; a brilliant ensemble of percussionists who promote the African component of Bahian music.
The Dumanlé Company, which practices Zaouli (an Ivorian folk art which combines, in the same show, mask, costume, music and dance) will face the percussive zapateado of Flamenco dancer Nino de Los Reyes accompanied by percussionist Sergio Martinez.
A highly anticipated merger which will undoubtedly go down in history, continues the same source.
This year again, the programming of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival has been carefully designed to offer a wide variety of musical genres and artists, making demanding and popular choices.
The Festival offers a bold and inclusive program, the hallmark of this event which provides a unique experience in the world. More than 400,000 festival-goers are expected this year, from around forty countries and all of Morocco, the press release concludes.
