Brussels’ Gnawas in the spotlight

Banda Quetzal Remork & Karkaba Marockin' Brass

Did you know that Brussels is the European capital of Gnawa culture, with over forty musicians living in the city? And that MetX has been working with many of them for nearly 25 years? To mark the 60th anniversary of the bilateral agreement on migration between Belgium and Morocco, we highlight this thriving scene and its collaborations through a video documentary, podcast, musical notebook and various celebrations.

In 2000, MetX founder Luc Mishalle started working with several Brussels gnawa musicians to create a project for the first Zinneke Parade. Since then, we've been working with them to create original and accessible repertoires, ensembles and festive moments, both via training projects and fusion projects.

Rida Stitou, Mohamed Saïd Akasri, Driss Filali, Hicham Bilali, Hanane Abdallah and Imane Guemssy are just some of the musicians who have worked with us on projects such as Marockin' Brass, VelotroniX, AGO Gnawa and Tsoukina, and more recently Remork & Karkaba, Banda Quetzal and re#encounter. So this autumn we're particularly pleased to highlight this rich history thanks to the support of several key partners!

Gnawaarisdafeestje? Belgo-Moroccan parades at BXL MAR’BEL & Bab Gnawa

Last summer, we organised a number of workshops on gnawa and chaabi rhythms, welcoming participants from schools, local associations and other partners. Together, we created a festive parade combining Moroccan percussion, singing and dance with brass instruments and metropolitan rhythms.

The parade first took over the streets of Brussels on Car Free Sunday, 22 September. Called BXL MAR'BEL, it set of from the canal in Molenbeek to the city centre, with musical stops at the AB, the Grand-Place during Folklorissimo and the beursschouwburg.

On Friday 4 October, we also immersed Les Marolles in Belgian-Moroccan festivities during the event Bab Gnawa. As part of Art+People, our parade travelled through the neighbourhood, passing by the various local partners. It was followed by an evening programme at MetX with a film screening and concerts.

Video documentary by Sebastian Strycharski

Merhaba Gnawa

With the support of VGC Erfgoedcel Brussel and Darna, we invited filmmaker Sebastian Strycharski to follow some of the Gnawa musicians we've been working with for many years. In the video documentary Merhaba Gnawa, he draws a particularly warm and authentic portrait of Driss Filali, Mohamed Saïd Akasri and Hanane Abdallah, among others, to which he added contributions from Laïla Amezian, Hélène Sechehaye and Luc Mishalle.

The première took place on 4 October at MetX, followed by screenings at Cinema Palace during the Cinemamed Festival, at Docu Débat at MC Gare, and at the Khouribga International Documentary Film Festival in Morocco.

Podcast in collaboration with Spraakmat

Gnawadde?

In addition to the video documentary, we also present our very first podcast, produced in collaboration with Spraakmat. We tell you about the particular origins of the Gnawa from West Africa to the Maghreb, and follow them on their journey to Brussels. With mâalem Driss Filali and musicians Meike De Roest and Luc Mishalle, we also explain how this musical tradition is passed on from one person to another.

MetX · Gnawadde? Een inleiding tot de Gnawa's in Brussel

musical notebook in collaboration with Hélène Sechehaye

Gnaquoi?

And finally, we've also created a notebook for those who want to learn more about Gnawa music or are interested in their culture and history. You'll find an introduction to the construction of rhythms, songs and other musical elements, as well as an overview of the roles and rituals that have kept this tradition alive for centuries, and of the evolution of Gnawa culture in Brussels over the last few decades.

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