Aziz Sahmaoui (in

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

: عزيز السحماوي) (born 1962 in

Marrakesh Marrakesh or Marrakech ( or ; ar, مراكش, murrākuš, ; ber, ⵎⵕⵕⴰⴽⵛ, translit=mṛṛakc}) is the fourth largest city in the Kingdom of Morocco. It is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakes ...

) is a Moroccan musician (vocalist – percussionist) specialized in the modern

Gnawa music Gnawa music (Ar. ) is a body of Moroccan religious songs and rhythms. Its well-preserved heritage combines ritual poetry with traditional music and dancing. The music is performed at ''lila'', communal nights of celebration dedicated to prayer ...

Early life

Aziz Sahmaoui was born in 1962 in

and grew up in the red city. He started listening to

since his young age, influenced by his father. After finishing his studies, he moved by the 1990s to Paris where he co-founded the National Orchestra of Barbès (in French: ''l'Orchestre National de Barbès'' – ONB), which mixed

Reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

and

Raï Raï (, ; ar, راي, Latn, ar, rāʾy, ), sometimes written rai, is a form of Algerian traditional music, folk music that dates back to the 1920s. Singers of Raï are called ''cheb'' (Arabic: شاب) (or ''shabab,'' i.e. young) as opposed ...

with North African influences. After releasing two albums with ONB, he joined the pianist

Joe Zawinul Josef Erich Zawinul ( '; 7 July 1932 – 11 September 2007) was an Austrian jazz and jazz fusion keyboardist and composer. First coming to prominence with saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, Zawinul went on to play with Miles Davis and to bec ...

and collaborated with him in a number of songs. In 2010, Sahmaoui founded his own band, The University of Gnawa, having members from various countries including France,

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

and North Africa. Inspired by its founder's experience, the band shows traces of many genres: North African Paris, ethno-Jazz Fusion,

Chaabi Chaabi ( in Arabic), also known as Chaâbi, Sha-bii, or Sha'bii meaning "folk", refers to different music genres in North Africa and the Middle East such as Algerian chaabi, Moroccan chaabi and Egyptian Shaabi. Chaabi music just means 'music of ...

and traditional West African music. Its core curriculum remains though: The deep exploration of Gnawa trance music. His first album was produced in Paris by

Martin Meissonnier Martin Meissonnier is a French musician, producer, journalist, and filmmaker. He is known for his work with African pop musicians such as Fela Kuti and King Sunny Adé among other diverse artists. His producing and film directing credits include ...

. Since, the band has toured all over the world, including the USA. In 2014, Aziz Sahmaoui applied for the Algerian citizenship, saying that: “I’d love to be an Algerian Citizen. It would be such an honor for me. Maybe this is a right, but it will be a joy, a privilege, an honor to be an Algerian citizen.”.Moroccan Singer Seeks to Obtain Algerian Citizenship – Morocco World News (2014).
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Discography

During his career, Aziz Sahmaoui recorded several albums, including: * ''Poetic Trance'' (2019) – With University of Gnawa * ''Mazal'' (2014) – With University of Gnawa * University of Gnawa (2011) – With University of Gnawa * ''75'' (2008) – With

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahmaoui, Aziz 1962 births People from Marrakesh 20th-century Moroccan male singers North African music Living people 21st-century Moroccan male singers