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Nass Marrakesh,
Sabil 'a' Salaam, Alula
Records The Gnawa is a religious brotherhood whose members are descendents of the slaves or soldiers who were brought to present day Morocco from across the Sahara. The Gnawas are now found all over the country with the strongest concentration in the city of Marrakesh. Through their history, music for the Gnawa people is the tool with which they induce a state of a healing trance during a religious ceremony called t he Lila or Deiceba. Thus, Gnawa music has become a way to preserve the tradition of their ancestors and carry on their religion. Abdeljalil Kodssi, Moulay M' hamed Ennaji (a.k.a. Sheriff), Abdelkebir Bensaloum and Mohamed Bechar are Moroccan musicians who are all closely related to the Gnawa Community . They are knowledgeable and heavily rooted in the Gnawa music tradition but are equally versed in the popular Moroccan sounds and western Jazz. They formed Nass Marrakesh in 1991; Sabil 'a' Salaam is their latest release on the Alula Records label. It is in essence a traditional Gnawa CD. It also extends itself however beyond the limits of the traditional. In its lyrics, the subject matter may address non-religious and more contemporar y global issues. West African, Spanish, Indian and Japanese musicians were invited to be a part of the CD hence the flavor at times goes beyond the Sintir or Karkabas, the most prevalent sound of Gnawa Music. Hits of the Mbalax Drum, the Japanese Shakuha chi and Indian Tabla pop up every once in while the overall feel of the music stays Gnawa. The result is a charming CD that stays true to its identity. |
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