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This July, BNET MARRAKECH from Morocco is a 5 woman group who will bring Berber, Chaabi, Rai and Gnawa songs from their country.

The "girls of Marrakech" are mixed Berbers originally coming from villages near Taroudant in the fertile plains of the Houara, south-east of Marrakech.

Berbers lived in north Africa long before the arrival of the Arabs, and their culture probably dates back more than 4,000 years. Berber states known as Mauritania
and Numidia existed in classical times.

Between the 11th and 13th centuries, two great Berber dynasties - the Almoravids and the Almohads - controlled large parts of Spain, as well as north-west Africa. Today, there are substantial Berber populations in Morocco and Algeria, plus smaller numbers in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.

Berbers are identified primarily by language but also by traditional customs and culture - such as the distinctive music and dances.

The ancient Berber culture is extrordinarily rich and diverse, with a variety of musical styles. These range from bagpipes and oboe (Celtic style) to pentatonic music (reminiscent of Chinese music) - all combined with African rhythms and a very important stock of authentic oral literature. These traditions have been kept alive by small bands of musicians who travel from village to village, as they have for centuries, to entertain at weddings and other social occasions with their songs, tales, and poetry.

Gnawa is a term used to define both a Moroccan music style and a Muslim religious brotherhood that invokes God and many prophets.

The origin of Gnawa music originally comes from West Africa, south of the Sahara. Over 500 years ago, slavery, conscription and trade brought people from West Africa to North Africa. When they got to the north, they brought their music with them which
was called Gnawa. Gnawa song texts contain many references to the privations of
exile and slavery.

These 5 women of BNET MARRAKECH have learnt singing since childhood and have been performing mostly for religious functions like marriages, births and circumcisions.

Their songs are sung in the Moroccan-Arabic vernacular language to the accompaniment of the forceful and hypnotic drumming of skin and metallic percussion.

Malika Mahjoubi is a Sheirat - the feminine of Sheikh - who perform love dances and sings to entertain and are often supposed to be courtesans. She is the lead singer of the group - conducting the show with irresistible magnetism and charm. She has been known to do sudden summersaults on stage!

Aziza Ait-Zouin plays the kamanche or Arabic violin as well as the oud. She is the rock of the group with a huge repertoire of different styles especially the Gnawa songs.

Fatima Bakkou has a strong and beautiful voice and is an enthusiastic drummer showing great virtuosity in playing quaint drums like the tubsil and the traiar.

Halima Chamkhi plays the Berber dadour and the darabouka while Fatima Malih is a keen specialist of Chaabi songs.

To listen to their music encompasses more than just their singing and instruments. It weaves into the world or spirituality and Sufism. They go into a state of trance and is heavily spiced with mysticism and poetry.

At the Rainforest World Music Festival, BNET MARRAKECH will be on mainstage for an evening performance as well as conducting workshops in the afternoons.

They are also henna specialists and will probably be available at one of the booths if you are looking for exotic and exquisite artwork to be painted on your body.
In fact, they also conduct wedding programmes in Marrakech where they will adorn a bride-to-be with dazzling creations with their henna. If you happen to be planning a wedding around the dates of the festival and would require the services of these women, here is your big chance!