Nass El Ghiwane

Review by Oumaima Fathi

The short: 

Nass El Ghiwane is a musical band established in 1970 in Casablanca, Morocco.

The long: 

Nass El Ghiwane was the first band to address social problems and political repression through its music in a critical time known as the years of lead “سنوات الرصاص” in Morocco. The period of the rule of King Hassan II was marked by violence against political dissidents and democracy activists. The founders of the band are Laarbi Batma, Boujmia Hagour and Omar Siyed who were joined later on by the gifted musicians Abderahman Paco and Allal Yaala. Paco was the Gembri player who brought the spirit of Gnawa music to their work. Nass El Ghiwane were named the Rolling Stones of Africa by the American producer Martin Scorsese who used their song “Ya Sah” on The Last Temptation of Christ soundtrack. The band’s music is a unique blend of different musical forms: Sufi, Melhoun, Chaabi and Gnawa.

To listen or not to listen:

I recommend, definitely! Thanks to my parents, I have been introduced to Nass El Ghiwane’s music early in my childhood. I still have an enormous admiration for them not only as legendary musicians but also as social changemakers. I highly recommend watching Trances which is a 1981 documentary film about Nass El Ghiwane. It was written and directed by Ahmed El Maanouni.