Between spirituality and tradition

With eyes wide open turned towards the Bab Doukkala stage, the public appreciated the opening procession, called "al-aâda", of the sixteenth edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira. There is something impressive about seeing the music of brotherhoods united for the time of an unprecedented parade. Men, women, young and old from the four corners of Morocco, European and American tourists, personalities from the world of art, but also politics, attended, amazed, a highly spiritual and resolutely traditional spectacle. Giant puppets mingled with the maâlems to proudly display their colours in the heart of the Medina. Here, the parade of the "monsters" of Gnaoua music is a festival in itself. Barely time to catch one's breath after the parade, the place is given over to the highly anticipated show, the opening concert of this edition on the Moulay Hassan square. In a wor…