The Gnaoua World Music Festival is an annual event held in Essaouira, Morocco. This festival presents unique musical performances that promote both Gnaoua music and world traditional music, enriching the global musical heritage. The festival features the participation of numerous Gnaoua masters and international artists. It attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors during its organization and spans three days. The festival also garners significant national and international media coverage.
The Festival The festival evenings and nights are organized in various locations across the city of Essaouira, including
- Moulay Hassan Stage: Located between the beach and the old city, this stage is designed to accommodate a large number of spectators.
- Beach Stage
- Bab Marrakech Tower
- The Aissawa Corner, where nights are hosted by prominent masters.
- Dar Souiri: A riad built in 1907 within the old city walls, which served as the regional authorities' headquarters during the protectorate era. Today, it is the headquarters of the Essaouira Mogador Association and a space dedicated to cultural activities.
- Dar Loubane