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Gnaoua Festival honors Maâlem Mustapha Baqbou, guembri legend, in emotional tribute
via Le Matin2 min read
The 27th Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira held an emotional tribute to Maâlem Mustapha Baqbou, who passed away on September 8, 2025. The event, organized on the Moulay Hassan stage, honored a figure integral to the festival's history, having participated in its first 26 editions. The tribute began shortly after 12:30 AM with a film detailing Baqbou's life. Born in Marrakech in 1953, he was introduced to Gnaoua zaouïas by his father, Maâlem El Ayachi Baqbou, and became a prominent guembri figure and a pioneer in integrating Gnaoua tradition with other musical styles. Neila Tazi, the festival's founder and producer, highlighted Baqbou's significant role in the festival and in promoting Gnaoua culture beyond Morocco. His brother, Ahmed Baqbou, discussed his early immersion in the art. Mohamed Derham spoke about Baqbou's time with Jil Jilala in the 1970s. Mehdi Nassouli, one of his disciples, shared insights into learning from him. Following the testimonials, music filled the stage. Hamza Baqbou, his son, performed, carrying on his father's legacy. He was joined by other maâlems, including Maâlem Abdesslam Alikane, Maâlem Abdelkbir Merchane, and Maâlem Mohamed Kouyou, all respected figures in the Gnaoua scene. Maâlem Najib Oubelquas, a student of Baqbou, also participated. Together, they performed several of the Marrakech artist's well-known pieces to an enthusiastic audience. Despite the late hour, the audience remained until around 2 AM, participating in a collectiv
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The 27th edition of the Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira featured a tribute evening for Maâlem Mustapha Baqbou on Friday, June 26, nearly a year after his passing. The Moulay Hassan stage hosted the event, celebrating the guembri master who had attended every festival since its inception. The tribute included a film about his career, testimonials from his family and disciples, and a concert led by his son, Hamza Baqbou. The audience remained engaged until the final notes of the performance.
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