Essaouira: More than 300,000 people gathered in Essaouira for the 26th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, held from June 19 to 21, with over 350 artists from more than a dozen countries performing across the coastal city. The festival featured a vibrant blend of traditional Gnaoua music and global genres, including Afro-Cuban beats, jazz, Mandingo chants, and Iraqi melodies. Performances by MaSlems, the masters of Gnaoua music, were interwoven with international fusion acts such as Marcus Gilmore, Dhafer Youssef, and Nigerian star CKay, who drew massive crowds.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the festival kicked off with a colorful opening parade led by Gnaoua MaSlems, transforming Essaouira into a hub of cultural fusion. Concerts spanned the historic medina, beaches, and public squares, with highlights including joint sets by Moroccan and Senegalese artists and a high-energy Saturday night performance by Cimafunk.

Beyond the music, the festival hosted the 12th Human Rights Forum, in partnership with the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad. This year’s theme, ‘Human Mobility and Cultural Dynamics,’ featured contributions from prominent intellectuals and artists, including Elia Suleiman and V©ronique Tadjo, who explored the cultural dimensions of migration.

Two roundtables under the UM6P Chair of Cultural Crossroads facilitated dialogue between academics and Gnaoua MaSlems, bridging scholarly research and oral traditions in discussions about the role of living heritage in contemporary society.

Now in its third decade, the festival remains one of Morocco’s most anticipated cultural events, reaffirming Essaouira’s position as a global meeting point for artistic expression, heritage preservation, and social dialogue.