This week, we meet a young Moroccan artist: Saad Tiouly, who is making his mark in the heart of Gnaoua music. He is a captivating artist, discovered during the Kriol Jazz Festival in Cape Verde last April.
The enchanting enchanter. Saad Tiouly is possessed when he sings, when his fingers make his guembri resonate. As a child, he was captivated by the Gnaoua trance during healing ceremonies in his neighborhood of the old medina of Casablanca.
Gnaoua music is based on large families of musicians, where this tradition is passed down from generation to generation. This was not the case for Saad Tiouly, who had to convince his relatives, break the codes, and prove that his destiny was linked to this ancestral culture.
Therefore, dedication is an important value for Saad Tiouly. He extensively studied the classics of Gnaoua music before choosing to compose his own songs.
His music, like the piece called ‘Ghrib ou berrani’, evokes the sharing of love among people. Explosive, creative, and mesmerizing, Saad Tiouly’s music soothes souls and also transmits a healing energy, the kind that drives one to push boundaries and strive for the impossible.
“For me, music is a way to send a message to people who share values, especially love. Without this music, which is very important, I wouldn’t even exist.”
[Context: Saad Tiouly is a young Moroccan artist gaining recognition in Gnaoua music. The article highlights his journey with the music genre and his dedication to it.] [Fact Check: The Kriol Jazz Festival mentioned where he was discovered took place in Cape Verde, not Morocco.]
