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A portal on the Gnawa people, and the smaller sect within of musicians/healers in Morroco. From marginalized subculture to "official" representatives of Moroccan culture, many Gnawa have undergone a dramatic transition in the past decade as their music has been "discovered" by western "world music" lovers. Consequently, the Web has been a central mean of disseminating information about this culture.

Gnawa music has become familiar to many Westerners; less familiar is Gnawa culture, religion, musical theory, musical instruments, and performing context of the Gnawa musicians. This online thesis (free, no download required) offers a good overview.

Gnawa music has become familiar to many Westerners; less familiar is Gnawa culture, religion, musical theory, musical instruments, and performing context of the Gnawa musicians. This online thesis (free, no download required) offers a good overview.

"Gnawa always had their trades," Abdullah El-Gourd was quick to tell me. "Not like now. Then you were a carpenter, a metal smith, a mason, everyone had their job. And you were also a Gnawi. Now people make being a Gnawi into a profession. It's even on their carte nationale (national identity cards).

Spirits in Morocco are called al-mluk - the possessors, from the verb ma-la-ka, to own. There is a relationship of power within the body of the possessed, which is often a conflictual one until the possessed submits to the possessor.