The Gnaoua and World Music Festival returns to Essaouira for its 26th edition from June 19 to 21, 2025, featuring 33 Gnaoua Maâlems alongside international artists. The festival has announced several musical collaborations, continuing its tradition of cross-cultural exchange established since 1998. Maâlem Khalid Sansi from Casablanca will perform with Cuban funk artist Cimafunk, blending Gnaoua traditions with Afro-Latin rhythms. Rabat-born Maâlem Morad ElMarjan will share the stage with Tunisian oud master Dhafer Youssef, known for his work with Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller. This fusion promises to combine guembri lines with mystical oud compositions. Female Gnaoua performer Asmaa Hamzaoui and her group Bnat Timbouktou will collaborate with Malian singer Rokia Koné, continuing the festival's tradition of showcasing African female voices alongside Maâlems. Beyond these fusions, Cimafunk, Rokia Koné, and Dhafer Youssef will also deliver solo performances at the Moulay Hassan Stage, the festival's emblematic venue. For over 25 years, the Essaouira festival has promoted borderless music, bringing together traditions from sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean in a celebration of musical exchange.
