History of Music in Morocco

The music of Morocco is different and it is culturally rich as the people. The patterns differ from place to place and it is greatly influenced by the area’s ethnic groups and the cultural tradition. Depending on the area you visit, you will hear the classical Arab-Andalusian music, the folk music of the Berber tribe, Gnawa and the renowned music patterns of Rai and Chaabi.

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Andalusian music blends with the haunting tonality of the Arab music with the flamenco-style playing of Spanish traditional music. This pattern makes use of difficult drumming, stringed instruments, lute and many others instruments. A well look at the Morocco’s classical music, the Andalusian music is sung in Arabic and it is naturally performed by men in their traditional clothing during the religious events, festivals and shows.

The Berber tribes are native to West African and they are made up of a significant part in Morocco’s populace. The Berber tribes possess their own language and also have a long oral custom of passing songs and poetry down from one generation another. There are three diverse Berber areas in Morocco and each of them possesses their own special rhythms.  The Berber music naturally comprises flutes, drums, clarinets, a rabab and one stringed fiddle. The Berber folk music take place at the Marrakesh Popular Arts Festival, the Agadir’s Timitar Festival and the festival of the family celebrations in the Berber villages.

The Gnawa combines the hypnotic dream rhythms with the ceremonial dancing and acrobatic. It is brought to Morocco by the West Africans, Gnawa changed the freed slaves in Marraskesh and Essaouria as both prayer and celebration of freedom of life. Gnawa encouraged the development of new Moroccan music and also combined the similar styles like jazz, reggae and hip hop. Gnawa is heard during the Marrakesh’s Djemaa-el Fna or during the annual Gnaoua World Music festival that do holds in every year in Essaouria, which is the center of Gnawa music.

Rai is a type of traditional music that coined from Algeria but later became renowned in Moroccan cities of Oujda and Berkane during the early 90s. it is fashionable with the young people and the lyrics of rai is traditionally concerned with the social problems that have influenced the indigenous populace of the west Africa. The music is an eclectic mixture of traditional and religious drum methods and melodies with electric instrumentation. Rai has an important sounds like the popular music sung in Arabic, but it has its deep cultural and religious influences.

Chaabi is seen as the pop music of Morocco. It was originated from Morocco folk music and sounds and is similar with Rai. It is mainly performed in Darija, Moroccan Arabic; it is one of the most largely listened types of music in Morocco. It features drums, cord instruments, lute and more currently it uses electric guitars and buzuks. Chaabi is played in taxicabs, clubs and market stalls.