Hassan Bousso and Moulay Tayeb to open the 2025 Gnaoua Festival

The 26th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival kicked off in the Moroccan city of Essaouira, with thousands of people in attendance.

Essaouira pulsates with rhythm at the opening of the 2025 Gnaoua Festival

The performances began with traditional street processions from Bab Doukkala, where Moroccan teachers gathered amidst incense and festive dances, in a spiritual scene steeped in symbolism. The event, which has become a prominent annual tradition, combines heritage with the universal spirit of music.

From Morocco to Brazil... a unique musical encounter

The opening ceremony featured a rich mix of cultures, as Maâlem Hassan Bousso and Moulay Tayeb Eddahbi joined international acts such as Ili Ayi from Brazil and Demanly from Ivory Coast. From Spain, Nino de los Reyes and Sergio Martinez brought a Flemish flair blended with modern jazz, giving the first night a cross-border artistic dimension.

350 artists... and 54 concerts distributed throughout Essaouira

The current edition hosts more than 350 artists, including 40 Gnaoui masters, representing the five continents of the world. Performances were held across multiple locations, most notably Moulay Hassan Square, the city's beach, Bab Marrakech Tower, and Dar Souiri, in an effort to integrate music with the city's urban and historical space, creating a unique interactive experience for local and international audiences.

Teachers celebrate the Gnawa heritage...and artistic surprises are expected.

Prominent performers on the first day included maâlem Houssem Ghenea, Hamid El Kasri, Khaled Izubaz, and Abdelouahed Stitou. The artistic collaboration between Houssem Ghenea and international musician Marcus Kilmore caught the eye, in a performance that combined the spiritual spirit of Gnawa with contemporary Western styles. The festival not only presents performances, but also re-presents Gnawa as a vibrant musical and humanistic philosophy.