Innov Gnawa

Innov Gnawa is a New York City-based Grammy-nominated music ensemble led by Maalem Hassan Benjaafar. The title Maalem, meaning Master, denotes BenJaafar’s heritage and musical tradition, passed down generationally within his family in Morocco. The Maalem intuits the spiritual needs of people in the audience, choosing appropriate repertoire for healing and directing the group by playing the three-stringed African bass, or guembri, and the resounding tbul drum, traditionally used in Morocco to summon people to a healing ceremony, or lila. BenJaafar is accompanied by Amino Belyamani and a brotherhood of other Gnawa musicians, singing call and response and playing the qraqeb, metal castanets whose staccato sound is said to represent the shackles and chains of slaves. Often referred to as “Sufi Blues,” Gnawa is ritual trance music invoking saints and spirits for healing and liberation. Like Blues music from the American South, Gnawa is treasured throughout Morocco for its soulfulness.