From Trance to Transcendence: Gnaoua Festival Goes Global Again

The 26th Gnaoua and World Music Festival returns to Essaouira, Morocco, from June 19 to 21, 2025. Since its founding in 1998, the festival has become a key platform for musical exchange, centered on the ancestral Gnawa tradition. Each year, Maâlems, masters of Gnawa trance, collaborate with world music artists from around the world, creating powerful cross-cultural performances.

This year continues that mission with newly announced fusions, as well as solo concerts from major global acts. More programming will be unveiled in the weeks ahead.

Sacred Groove: Maâlem Khalid Sansi x Cimafunk

Casablanca-born Maâlem Khalid Sansi, a rising force in contemporary Gnawa, joins forces with Cimafunk, Cuba’s breakout Afro-Latin funk artist. Sansi, trained from childhood by his father, is known for his genre-crossing collaborations, mixing Gnawa ritual with jazz, dance, and global rhythms. Cimafunk, hailed as a modern heir to James Brown, fuses funk with Afro-Cuban traditions in an electrifying live show. Together, they promise a high-energy set merging trance, groove, and improvisation.

Spiritual Synergy: Maâlem Morad ElMarjan x Dhafer Youssef

Morad ElMarjan, a key figure in Morocco’s new wave of Gnawa artists, brings a reflective approach to the genre’s spiritual roots. For this edition, he collaborates with Tunisian-born oud master Dhafer Youssef. Known for combining jazz, Sufi chant, and electronica, Youssef has worked with icons like Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller. Their performance will explore the intersection of guembri and oud.

Voices of Heritage: Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou x Rokia Koné

Asmaa Hamzaoui, one of the first prominent female Gnawa artists, continues to reshape the tradition through her all-women ensemble, Bnat Timbouktou. Their music addresses themes of exile, identity, and feminine power. They are joined by Rokia Koné, the Malian singer known as “the Rose of Bamako” and a member of Les Amazones d’Afrique. Koné’s mix of Manding heritage and modern arrangements resonates with depth and intensity. Their collaboration highlights the evolving role of women in African and Gnawa music traditions.

In addition to their collaborative sets, Cimafunk, Rokia Koné, and Dhafer Youssef will each perform solo concerts on the Moulay Hassan Stage.

For over 25 years, the Gnaoua and World Music Festival has connected Moroccan tradition with global innovation. This 26th edition reaffirms its commitment to cultural dialog, spiritual expression, and musical discovery.

More information at www.festival-gnaoua.net/en/home/