“25 years of a unique artistic and human epic, this is what the iconic Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira is preparing to celebrate, which will complete its first quarter century this year with musicians from all four corners of the world performing alongside the Maâlems Gnaoua”, the organizers indicate in a press release.
Thus, world-renowned artists and rising stars of the music scene rub shoulders in this 2024 vintage, they specified.
Alune Wade (Senegal), Aïta Mon Amour (Morocco, Tunisia), BCUC (South Africa), Simon Shaheen Quartet (Palestine) and Ablaye Cissoko & Cordaba (Senegal) share a common passion for African and Arab musical heritage, which they each reinterpret and reinvent in their own way.
In addition to this exploration, they embody a great diversity of genres, ranging from Afrobeat to Aïta, including Jazz, traditional Arabic music, Soul and even Punk Rock.
A bassist with impressive technique, a talented composer and performer, Alune Wade makes the heart of Africa beat in his music often described as nomadic jazz, which mixes oriental influences and sounds of the continent. A true musical traveler, performing on stages all over the world, Alune Wade never ceases to explore the secrets of Gnaoua trance.
“Reinterpreting tradition with modern tools is the mission set by the duo Aïta Mon Amour, which takes us on a captivating journey through these age-old rural songs, popularized by the Chikhates,” adds the same source.
Popular and feminist songs of incredible modernity, which Aïta Mon Amour revisits to share her fascination and make this typically Moroccan art resonate with the new generation anchored in digital technology.
“Attending a BCUC concert is a galvanizing and unforgettable experience,” say the organizers.
The powerful energy of this group from Soweto, which mixes traditional African music, soul and punk rock to create a unique and festive trance, promises to electrify the Festival.
A tireless ambassador of traditional Arabic music, Simon Shaheen is recognized worldwide as a virtuoso violinist and an exceptional oud player.
His brilliant interpretation of Arabic music and the blends he makes with other musical traditions allow the international public to discover all the beauty of Arab culture.
Multiplying, for twenty years, hybridizations and musical collaborations, Ablaye Cissoko is considered one of the greatest players of kora, this enchanting instrument found in West Africa. A griot musician, Ablaye Cissoko embodies the meeting between Mandingo traditions and contemporary creation.
Please note that more than 400 artists will perform during the 53 concerts planned for the 25th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival.
“Over the years, the Festival has established itself as an essential crossroads and a unique musical laboratory in the world thanks to a program that favors diversity and audacity, while being designed to please all audiences,” the press release concludes.
2024-09-18 16:36:33