GNAWA

Brittany Eldridge

Origins

“Gnawa” originates from Saharan Berber word agenaou (black man)

The Gnawa people are descended from Sub-Saharan slaves

Came from Ghana during 11th - 13th c.

Took Bilal as their patron saint Combine Sufism and African

beliefs A mixture of Berber, Arabic,

and African traditions

Morocco

Instruments

Hajhuj/Gimbri Tbel Krakeb

Gnawa Lingo/Terms

M’allem (ex: Mahmoud Guinia) Moqadma/Shuwafa Derdba/Lila Mluk (ma-la-ka, to own) Jedba Treq

Purpose of Rituals

First performed rituals to heal the pain of their captivity

Its purpose is to rejuvenate the body

Meant to recreate the genesis of the universe

Participants want to be one with the spirits – leads to healing

Try to reach god through the spirits

Create a sense of community

Characteristics of Rituals

Called lila/derdba Lead by m’allem M’allem cannot be

intoxicated while performing

Anyone can participate Lasts all night or until

the trance wears off

Proceedings at Rituals

Use incense and music to evoke the spirits

Begins with animal sacrifice and reciting of ‘spiritual prescriptions’

Jedba begins Dancers wear veils Each mluk has an identifiable

rhythm, dance, incense, color “The soul goes from life to death to

come back to life, passing through the seven colors of the universe”

Those possessed show extreme range of emotions

Poetic language is used to enhance the state of trance

Food Sacrificed at Rituals

Seven colors and their food All Colors: Bread, Dates, Dried Fruits White – the opening: milk, dates, orange flower water Black – Sidi Mimun: olives, day old bread Light Blue – sea spirits: bowl of water with coriander

seeds Dark Blue – sky spirits: benzoin Red – Sidi Hamu: sacrificed chicken, raisin juice Green – the noble ones: Malika’s Soup (raisin juice) Yellow/Multicolor – the women: henna

Gnawa Characteristics

Repetitive Inflective pitch Pitch Flattening Many stringed

instruments Seven musical

patterns

Lyrics

Typical lyrics talk about the pain felt by slaves

Other lyrics include songs praising the spirits

http://www.dargnawa.org/DG%20Lyrics.htm

Who Know Them?

Allah Pray On The Prophet And His ApostleWho Feeds Me Is Pure, Is Bablyé And Koyo-MariyaBy Allah, My Goodness, Amnesty My LordWayé, Awayé, Wayé , Yé Wa Wa AllahAllah, Allah, Sempiternel Is AllahI Testify That The Lonely Good Is AllahMohamed Oh Messenger Of Allah;Allah My Good, Amnesty My Lord. 

Let Pray With Us Allah, To Amnesty Peoples

Allah Give Your AmnestyWho Invite Us To Their Honorable House By CharityAllah!  Be Generous With ThemAllah Preserve Them From House Evil And Treachery MenBy Allah Amen!Asking The Honorables To Pray With UsBy Allah My Good , Amnesty My Lord,By Yé, Yé, Yé, To Whom Know Them,Or Their Place To Direct Us, Please.

Because On This Vessel My BrothersThey Sent Us To You,Playing With His Strings My FriendsAnd By Strings We're Calling You,My Brothers, My FriendsWe Are Your Brothers,We Are African And MoroccanGenuine And Like You,This Is Our Aim, And Who Understood, Direct Us Please The Call Of Our Fathers, My FriendsThe Ancestors Marvel, Generations Gave Your NewsAnd What Happen To You, Asking And Insisting, AlwaysAsking For You,Some Of You Are From Mali, My Brothers Who Know Them?Some Of You Are From Ghana, My Friends Who Know Them?Some Of You Are From Niger, My Brothers Who Know Them?Some Of You Are From Kenya, My Friends Who Know Them?This Is Our Aim, And Who Understood, Direct By Yé, Yé I Found You, You Are My BrothersToday I Knew You;Like Our Ancestors I'm Visiting You,To Renew The Relation With Your Spirits,My Sisters And BrothersBy Allah!  How Generous Is Your Meeting,Springtime Of Your Jazz And BluesGave Gnawa Your Fruits Taste.

Modern Gnawa

Influenced other genres (blues)

Fusion with other genres, especially jazz, reggae, and the blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxGFns8NWvE

More secular

Bibliography

Kapchan, Deborah A. Traveling Spirit Masters: Moroccan Gnawa Trance and Music in the Global Marketplace. Middletown, Connecticut. Wesleyan University Press, 2007.

http://www.ptwmusic.com/gnawa.htm