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The final event in the festival is a concert by Aziz Sahmaoui, who was born in the Maghreb, and raised in Marrakesh, the cultural melting-pot that is the centre of Morocco. Aziz Sahmaoui is considered to be a true source of inspiration for many emerging musicians. After studying literature in Marrakesh, he moved to Paris, where he founded the Orchestre National de Barbès, a band which proved to be of fundamental importance in the world music and fusion scene of the 1990s.  In the world of jazz, he worked with artistes such as Joe Zawinul (a member of the mythical band Weather Report), Nguyên Lê and Michael Gibbs from Sixun. With the “University of Gnawa” project, which received an award from the magazine Mondomix, Aziz went back to his roots and to the “gnawa” repertoire – sacred music which aims to establish a direct link with the patron saints and to ward off evil spirits.

Performers:
Aziz Sahmaoui, soloist vocals, N’goni, mandola
Hilaire Panda, bass
Hervé Sambe, guitar, backing vocals
Smail Benhouhou, keyboards, backing vocals
Adhil Mirghani, percussion, backing vocals

Aziz Sahmaoui >>

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