This exchange is particularly evident in two distinct musical traditions: (a) the pentatonic Amazigh music of the Berber people, found south of the High Atlas, beyond the Anti-Atlas, in the pre-Saharan oases; and (b) the Gnaoua music of former black slaves, which shares strong similarities with the music of the Bambara, Malinke and Peul (or Fulani) tribes of West Africa (Aydoun in Alaoui M’Hammdi. [...] African music and culture spread through the transatlantic slave trade, influencing the Americas and the Caribbean, much as they did through the trade of sub-Saharan Blacks to Morocco.22 Despite differences in instruments,23 there are striking similarities between the Black music of the Atlantic diaspora and Gnaoua music. [...] Some defining characteristics of the music of the African diaspora include: Strong rhythm: The use of drums and castanets creates the strong rhythm that is central to Gnaoua music, complemented by the rich, deep tones of the three- stringed guembri. [...] Over the last 25 years, the festival has grown into a four-day cultural event, drawing up to 500,000 music lovers from around the world.46 Need to strengthen the policy, institutional, and investment environment to promote private and public returns from CCI: The success of the Gnaoua World Music Festival in Essaouira highlights the potential of substantial and sustained private and public support. [...] About the Policy Center for the New South The Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) is a Moroccan think tank aiming to contribute to the improvement of economic and social public policies that challenge Morocco and the rest of Africa as integral parts of the global South.
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- 14
- Published in
- Morocco