Abdel Benaddi — A Dream In Essaouira (Worlds Within Worlds, 2024)
Abdel Benaddi is a hereditary Gnawa musician from Essawira, Morocco, a coastal city known for its longstanding Gnawa ceremonial culture. He serves as Director of the Zaouia Sinda Bilal (Ceremonial House of Gnawa) in Essawira, where he helps organize community gatherings and ritual ceremonies that sustain the tradition.
Benaddi released his debut album, A Dream In Essaouira on July 26, 2024. The high quality recording documents a traditional Gnawa performance as practiced in Essawira in 2024.
Recorded in Essawira, the album was made with Moroccan-Australian producer Julian Belbachir and Dave Godriguez (Godtet). Together, they aimed to capture the feel and momentum of an authentic Gnawa ceremony, including cyclical call-and-response chants over transfixing karkabas (metal castanets) rhythms, supported by Benaddi’s pulsating guimbri bass lute.
Lyrically and thematically, A Dream In Essaouira focuses on Gnawa spirituality and devotion, with songs that praise the divine and honor saints and spiritual figures.
Benaddi describes the music as a spiritual practice embedded in daily life and community: “I hail from a lineage deeply rooted in Gnawa music. My family members are actively involved in its practice and propagation. My father is a respected figure within the community. He traversed the globe alongside renowned masters, spreading the Gnawa culture far beyond Morocco’s borders. This heritage binds us together, instilling a sense of duty to uphold our ancestral traditions and ensure their continuity for future generations.”
Musicians: Abdelsalam Benaddi on lead vocals & guimbri; Koyo backing vocals & percussion: Ismail Benaddi, Abdeljabar Ait Mamas Touda, Hamadi Oujana, Hamza Ahrach, Rida Elhidan & Azdeen Lakmah.
Produced & recorded by Julian Belbachir & David Godriguez. Mixed by David Godriguez. Mastered by Jack Prest.
Cover photo by Saad El Mazouni.
Buy A Dream In Essaouira.
Author: Tyler Bennet
