The Gnawa ceremony – which takes place over a whole night – is a rite of possession with an essentially therapeutic function; it is made up of three phases: the ‘ada, a highly coloured procession, a noisy parade which incites dance and movement: the kuyu, a series of dances entrusted to the musicians: it’s not yet trance, but a preliminary game, a preparation for the last phase (the most important), that of the m'ouk, during which incense and veils of different colours are brought upon a tray - they are used as the signs to recognise the seven different symbols m’louk, whose constantly faster rhythmic beat pushes the trance ceremony to its highest level. The tradition of Jahjuka – a village on the edge of the Rif mountain range – is just as old and as deeply rooted as Gnawa, and in time it has produced a specific repertoire. The master musicians travel through the Srif valley to animate weddings, parties, wakes in honour of visiting dignitaries, and many other occasions in the course of the whole year. In the city of Ouezzane, you can today still buy a ghaytat (rudimental oboe, typical Jahjuka instrument, together with the thel.) The percussion instruments are of course the main players in the 18 tracks which make up Gnawa & Jahjuka Trance (only in the opening track Mama Africa and in the traditional Allah Hay are there also vocals): Nour-Eddine not only sings and plays all of the instruments (djembé, harrazh, ta’rija, darbouka,thel, tam-tam, qraqeb, daf, bendhir), but, in line with his teaching vocation, has included with the CD, aimed at both general listeners and lovers of rhythm, an ample booklet, full of notes and musical transcriptions, as well as 8 didactic tracks, each one corresponding to a specific basic rhythmic pattern. Now you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the spiritual depth of the North African trance. |
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Taragnawa
Coexist
Gnâwa & Jahjûka Trance
Zri - Zrat