The sinter is a lute. Gnawa refers to an ethnic minority within Morocco, whose ancestors can be traced back to slaves transported from sub-saharan Africa, primarily from the areas of present day Mali, Burkina Fasso, and Senegal to the Maghreb, between the 15th and 16th centuries. These black slaves served as soldiers for the ruling dynasties of Morocco. With time, the enslaved were freed by manumission, escape, and other circumstances, and formed various communities.
This group is a mystic sect of traditionally black Muslim musical healers who practice ritual ceremonies of spirit possession. Of all of the mystic sects in Morocco, the Gnawa are the least understood.
Gnawa is also the name of the musical style related to the brotherhood, which is spiritual music intended for healing by inducing trance. Gnawa music plays an integral role in the ritual ceremony, known as Lila Derdeba.
Chanting is used in a call and response manner. The Malaam invokes the spirits and saints by calling their names many times, repeating lines of praise, and soliciting their help. Of the Gnawa’s 243 songs used in the Lila Derdeba, there are no narrative lines, only invocations to the saints and spirits of the Gnawa. However, during the entertainment section which precedes the Lila, the Gnawa sing other sogs which recount their personal history and experience of slavery.
The ritual ceremony, called Lila Derdeba, has traditions that draw from Sufism, a mystical sect of Islam, African shamanism, and Animism. Although Gnawa culture has been greatly influenced by Sufism, one rather large difference remains. While Sufis believe in direct contact and communication with God, the Gnawa believe God is too powerful to experience Him directly, rather He can only be reached through spiritual manifestations in our world. These spiritual manifestations refer to the supernatural or to saints that have lived on earth in the past.
Ramesh acquired this piece while visiting Morocco.