Music of Morocco

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Music of Morocco
Specific forms
Regional music

The music of Morocco ranges and differs according to the various areas of the country.

Traditional music styles[edit]

Berber folk music[edit]

Main article: Berber music

There are three varieties of Berber folk music: village music, ritual music, and the music performed by professional musicians.

Chaabi "popular" folk music[edit]

Main article: Chaabi

Chaabi الشعبي (popular in English) is a music consisting of numerous varieties which descend from the multifarious forms of Moroccan folk music. Chaabi was originally performed in markets, but is now found at any celebration or meeting.

Gnawa, mystical[edit]

Main article: Gnawa and/or Gnawa music

Gnawa is a form of music that is mystical. It was gradually brought to Morocco by Sub-Saharan Africans and later became part of the Moroccan tradition.

Classical Malhun[edit]

Main article: Malhun

Classical Malhum is peaceful and very interesting to listen to. it has been played around in the streets of Morocco for over a thousand years. It is very common music to hear in Morocco.

Classical Sufi music[edit]

Main article: Sufi brotherhoods

Sufi brotherhoods (tarikas) are common in Morocco, and music is an integral part of their spiritual tradition. This music is an attempt at reaching a trance state which inspires mystical ecstasy.

Rock, pop, rap, and reggae[edit]

Rai, rock music[edit]

Main article: Raï

Rai is more closely associated with Algeria in the international music scene, but Morocco has produced its own stars like Cheb Mimoun and Hanino.

Celine is a popular poprock artist in Morocco.

Morocco's famous international music producer RedOne (Nadir Khayat) is representing Morocco internationally and he was decorated by the king of Morocco Mohamed 6 "wissam alaoui".

Rap and reggae[edit]

Rap and reggae have become more dominant in contemporary Morocco. Artists such as Muslim, Dizzy DROS and Dub Afrika have gained international popularity. They are most known for their song, Rissala.[1][2]

Mehdi Hattabi (born July 7), better known by his stage name Dub Afrika, is a Moroccan singer, mixer, and dancer. Dub Afrika started his musical career on the streets and soon rose to fame. In 2009, he became a member of Cosa Nostra, a successful group. They released an album in 2009 which includes the songs, "Positive Time" and "Made in Morocco."

In 2011, he left Cosa Nova to begin his solo career as a reggae artist with his first single "Mama, I Love You." Since then he has been continuously producing successful hits such as "Sky is the Limit" and "Bless." He has also collaborated with artists such as Nabyl Chouftchouf, Spliff Killa, and most notably, Muslim.

Music education[edit]

See also[edit]


  • Muddyman, Dave. "A Basic Expression of Life". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 567–578. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0


  • Chants et Danses Berbères (Moyen Atlas - Foire au Mouton de Timhadit) par Alexis Chottin 16 juin 1935 in Revue de musicologie, T. 17e, No. 58e (1936), pp. 65–69
  • Olsen, Myriam ; Lortat-Jacob, Bernard, pref. Musiques de l’Atlas, Arles : Actes Sud : Cité de la musique, 1997 .
  • Guettat, Mahmoud, La musique classique du Maghreb, Paris : Sindbad, 1980 . (La bibliothèque arabe).
  • Aydoun, Ahmed, Musiques du Maroc, Casablanca : Editions EDDIF, 1994.
  • Mohamed Belghazi (dir.), Instruments des musiques populaires et de confréries du Maroc. Fragments de musées, Aix-en-Provence : Edisud, La croisée des chemins, 1998.
  • Catherine Homo-Lechner et Christian Rault, Instruments de musique du Maroc et d'al-Andalus, Fondation Royaumont / CERIMM, 1999.

External links[edit]