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 songs 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.
General information regarding Islam:
Islam is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion teaching that there is only one God (Allah), and that Muhammad is the messenger of God. It is the world's second-largest religion with over 1.9 billion followers or 24.4% of the world's population, commonly known as Muslims. Muslims make up a majority of the population in 50 countries. Islam teaches that God is merciful, all-powerful, and unique, and has guided mankind through prophets, revealed scriptures, and natural signs. The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran, believed to be the verbatim word of God, and the teachings and normative examples (called the sunnah, composed of accounts called hadith) of Muhammad (c. 570 – 8 June 632 CE).
Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, and the Quran, in its Arabic, to be the unaltered and final revelation of God. Like other Abrahamic religions, Islam also teaches a final judgment with the righteous rewarded in paradise and unrighteous punished in hell. Religious concepts and practices include the Five Pillars of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship. The cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam.
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 songs 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.
General information regarding Islam:
Islam is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion teaching that there is only one God (Allah), and that Muhammad is the messenger of God. It is the world's second-largest religion with over 1.9 billion followers or 24.4% of the world's population, commonly known as Muslims. Muslims make up a majority of the population in 50 countries. Islam teaches that God is merciful, all-powerful, and unique, and has guided mankind through prophets, revealed scriptures, and natural signs. The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran, believed to be the verbatim word of God, and the teachings and normative examples (called the sunnah, composed of accounts called hadith) of Muhammad (c. 570 – 8 June 632 CE).
Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, and the Quran, in its Arabic, to be the unaltered and final revelation of God. Like other Abrahamic religions, Islam also teaches a final judgment with the righteous rewarded in paradise and unrighteous punished in hell. Religious concepts and practices include the Five Pillars of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship. The cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam.
