Fair Trade Culture

August 1st, 2007 by Dominic

I was wandering the streets of Essaouira taking some snapshots when from behind me I heard from behind me, â€œPssst! Pssssst!â€. I turn to see Mohammad smiling at me waving me over. His shop is about 5′ x 8′ with hardly any room to turn around.Thereâ€™s many photos of himself adorning the walls of him presenting his instruments to artists I donâ€™t recognize. He excitedly shows me a picture of himself (a much younger â€˜himselfâ€™) presenting a to none other than Carlos Santana. After showing me how to set up the Guenbri I coaxed him into playing for me.

Video Of Mohammad Playing Guenbri.

Mohammad has been making Guenbris since he was 15 years oldâ€¦and has been in this shop 45 years. He speaks no English, but various younger members of his family translate a bit before he shoos them away. When music is involved words are not necessary, pointing and gesturing are all thatâ€™s necessary.

The instrument is made from a hand crafted wood body (some from strips of wood, others from a â€˜parquetâ€™ style), fretless neck, camel leather body cover and 3 camel leather strings.

Itâ€™s played by simultaneously plucking the strings (index finger) and drumming the front of the camel leather body (middle finger and thumb), see the video for an example (please excuse my videography)!

Guenbri are used to play a type of music called Gnawa. Gnawa refers to a style of Moroccan music with sub-Saharan Africa origins or influence. Gnawa musicians generally refer to people who also practice healing rituals. In Moroccan popular culture, Gnawas, through their ceremonies, are considered to be experts in the magical treatment of scorpion stings and psychic disorders. They heal diseases by the use of colors, condensed cultural imagery, perfumes and fright.

Google Map

View All Products By This Artist

More Pictures!

Trackback URL