Essaouira
– Gnawa Festival
Gnawa is the music of the descendants
of the slaves who were brought to Morocco from Southern Africa. Essaouira has been hosting this festival since
1998. The reputation of this picturesque port town of being laid back yet vibrant and atmospheric make it the perfect
venue for a festival devoted to this enchanting style of music. The music incorporates a mix of African
and Islamic rituals, the mesmerizing rhythms of drums, guenbri (a form of lute) and hand-held garagab (metal castanets).
Artists appearing at the festival include the best musicians of the genre as well as players of jazz, pop, rock, and
contemporary music. From £799
Fez – The Annual
World Sacred Music Festival
Fez hosts this popular Festival as musicians from around the world come to share and experience different
styles of music. See participants and artists from Morocco, France, Spain, South Africa, Turkey, Iran,
Armenia, Egypt, Israel, Senegal, Poland, the U.S., Greece and India. Experience the mystic styles of Sufi
chants, Pakistani Gawwali incantations, Egyptian madhi odes, ancient Gwalior chants and many more. From £940
Marrakech – National Festival of Popular Arts
As one of the most
popular festivals in Morocco, this week long event is set against the wonderful backdrop of the 16th century El Badi Palace.
Spectators squeeze into the courtyards of the Palace to experience and enjoy the performances of the Berber musicians
of the High Atlas Mountains, the Andalus-inspired musicians of the north and the enchanting music of the southern Gnawa’s.
From £699
Imilchil - The Fiancé Festival
Imilchil hosts annually
the Fiancé Festival where up to 40 couples come together as husband and wife. The festival features Berber
musical performances and excellent shopping in the markets especially created for the festival. According to legend, a man
and woman from two local tribes fell in love, but were forbidden by their families to marry. They cried themselves to death,
creating the lakes of Issly (his) and Tisslit (hers) near Imilchil. The families were so devastated by this, they created
a day on the anniversary of the lovers’ death to which members of the two tribes could marry.
During the festival women from villages all over
Morocco are made up in traditional dress as the husbands search for their perfect match. If the groom is successful, the woman
says ‘You captured my liver’ and the match is settled. From £795
Agadir – Timitar Festival
In its sixth year,
the Timitar festival aims to bring together Berber and World Cultures. This week-long event is set against
the wonderful backdrop of sun and sea. The music centre’s around the new generation of world music
and is aimed at all tastes. From £680
