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Gnawa

Gnawa . Brittany Eldridge. Origins. “Gnawa” originates from Saharan Berber word agenaou (black man) The Gnawa people are descended from Sub-Saharan slaves Came from Ghana during 11 th - 13 th c. Took Bilal as their patron saint Combine Sufism and African beliefs

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Gnawa

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  1. Gnawa Brittany Eldridge

  2. Origins • “Gnawa” originates from Saharan Berber word agenaou (black man) • The Gnawa people are descended from Sub-Saharan slaves • Came from Ghana during 11th - 13th c. • Took Bilal as their patron saint • Combine Sufism andAfrican beliefs • A mixture of Berber, Arabic, and African traditions Morocco

  3. Instruments • Hajhuj/Gimbri • Tbel • Krakeb

  4. Gnawa Lingo/Terms • M’allem (ex: MahmoudGuinia) • Moqadma/Shuwafa • Derdba/Lila • Mluk (ma-la-ka, to own) • Jedba • Treq

  5. Purpose of Rituals • First performed rituals to heal the pain of their captivity • Its purpose is to rejuvenate the body • Meant to recreate the genesis of the universe • Participants want to be one with the spirits – leads to healing • Try to reach god through the spirits • Create a sense of community

  6. Characteristics of Rituals • Called lila/derdba • Lead by m’allem • M’allem cannot be intoxicated while performing • Anyone can participate • Lasts all night or until the trance wears off

  7. Proceedings at Rituals • Use incense and music to evoke the spirits • Begins with animal sacrifice and reciting of ‘spiritual prescriptions’ • Jedba begins • Dancers wear veils • Each mluk has an identifiable rhythm, dance, incense, color • “The soul goes from life to death to come back to life, passing through the seven colors of the universe” • Those possessed show extreme range of emotions • Poetic language is used to enhance the state of trance

  8. Food Sacrificed at Rituals • Seven colors and their food • All Colors: Bread, Dates, Dried Fruits • White – the opening: milk, dates, orange flower water • Black – SidiMimun: olives, day old bread • Light Blue – sea spirits: bowl of water with coriander seeds • Dark Blue – sky spirits: benzoin • Red – SidiHamu: sacrificed chicken, raisin juice • Green – the noble ones: Malika’s Soup (raisin juice) • Yellow/Multicolor – the women: henna

  9. Gnawa Characteristics • Repetitive • Inflective pitch • Pitch Flattening • Many stringed instruments • Seven musical patterns

  10. Lyrics • Typical lyrics talk about the pain felt by slaves • Other lyrics include songs praising the spirits • http://www.dargnawa.org/DG%20Lyrics.htm

  11. Who Know Them? Because On This Vessel My BrothersThey Sent Us To You,Playing With His Strings My FriendsAnd By Strings We're Calling You,My Brothers, My FriendsWe Are Your Brothers,We Are African And MoroccanGenuine And Like You,This Is Our Aim, And Who Understood, Direct Us Please The Call Of Our Fathers, My FriendsThe Ancestors Marvel, Generations Gave Your NewsAnd What Happen To You, Asking And Insisting, AlwaysAsking For You,Some Of You Are From Mali, My Brothers Who Know Them?Some Of You Are From Ghana, My Friends Who Know Them?Some Of You Are From Niger, My Brothers Who Know Them?Some Of You Are From Kenya, My Friends Who Know Them?This Is Our Aim, And Who Understood, Direct By Yé, Yé I Found You, You Are My BrothersToday I Knew You;Like Our Ancestors I'm Visiting You,To Renew The Relation With Your Spirits,My Sisters And BrothersBy Allah!  How Generous Is Your Meeting,Springtime Of Your Jazz And BluesGave Gnawa Your Fruits Taste. Allah Pray On The Prophet And His ApostleWho Feeds Me Is Pure, Is Bablyé And Koyo-MariyaBy Allah, My Goodness, Amnesty My LordWayé, Awayé, Wayé , YéWaWa AllahAllah, Allah, Sempiternel Is AllahI Testify That The Lonely Good Is AllahMohamed Oh Messenger Of Allah;Allah My Good, Amnesty My Lord. Let Pray With Us Allah, To Amnesty Peoples Allah Give Your AmnestyWho Invite Us To Their Honorable House By CharityAllah!  Be Generous With ThemAllah Preserve Them From House Evil And Treachery MenBy Allah Amen!Asking The Honorables To Pray With UsBy Allah My Good , Amnesty My Lord,By Yé, Yé, Yé, To Whom Know Them,Or Their Place To Direct Us, Please.

  12. Modern Gnawa • Influenced other genres (blues) • Fusion with other genres, especially jazz, reggae, and the blues • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxGFns8NWvE • More secular

  13. Bibliography • Kapchan, Deborah A. Traveling Spirit Masters: Moroccan Gnawa Trance and Music in the Global Marketplace. Middletown, Connecticut. Wesleyan University Press, 2007. • http://www.ptwmusic.com/gnawa.htm

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