Morocco, Israel, Smithsonian NMAA, SHIN-DC Invite You for MIMOUNA (Zoom), APR 5

Enjoy the rich and diverse influences of Gnawa and Andalusi music performed by Ismail Bouzidoune and Mor Karbasi.

 

Inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Gnawa is concentrated in Morocco but has many influences that can be traced to sub-Saharan West-Africa. 

 

Andalusi music, originally developed in al-Andalus in the Iberian Peninsula in the 9th century by the native Muslim population, influenced many different styles of music across the Maghreb, including piyyutim (liturgical music of Moroccan Jews), which is sung in Hebrew, Arabic, and Haketía (the Moroccan dialect of Ladino, classified by UNESCO as a highly endangered language).

 

 

ISMAIL BOUZIDOUNE (lead vocal) with Abderahim Shalah (backup vocals and castanets). Ismail is from Casablanca, Morocco and resides in Washington. As a teenager, Ismail brought his love of traditional Gnawa music, a talent for playing Gimbri and bass, and a core belief in the healing power of music to the U.S. He is the lead singer of Jouwala Collective. Click on Music Samples: Mimouna Song 2015, Leila, Mimouna Song 2019.

 

MOR KARBASI (lead vocal) with Joe Taylor (guitar) and David Dagmi (percussion). A resident of Jerusalem, Israel, Mor’s grandparents are originally from Marrakesh, Morocco. She writes original material and sings traditional songs which she has performed internationally, including in the U.S. and Europe. The Guardian newspaper has called Mor “one of the great young divas of the global music scene.” Click on Music Samples: Morenika (Ladino and Greek), Bibilu Yasanu Mimisraim (Hebrew and Moroccan Judeo-Arabic).