05/08/2026
In early June of this year, we went to Essaouira for a one-week residency with , coinciding with the 27th edition of . We spent a week jamming, writing, recording sound and image and had the pleasure of meeting the gnawis from Zagora’s
What you’re looking at is the synchronised polyrhythmic handclapping by the koyos - also called “El Rach” (الرش) - which, under the guidance of Maalem and friend on the guembri, forms the basis from which Gnawa ritual is born.
This improvised conversation between clapping, voices and strings - of which the first, lowest-sounding bass-string is called ‘raghoul’ - bouncing off the walls, wind and wrapped fabric, is finally layered with a responsive soundscape by
We would like to thank & for connecting us and everyone else involved in making the residency happen.
