The musical heritage of Sudan and Moroccan Gnawa
A special edition of African Grooves: tonight features the hypnotic Moroccan Gnawa of Omarhaba and the Mo & Kush Band presenting their brand-new album.
Sharing Sudan’s fascinating musical heritage with the world: that’s the mission of Mo & Kush Band, and the dream of bandleader Mo Ahmed. While still living in Sudan, Mo traveled across the country, recording the music of its many cities and tribes. Each tribe has its own unique rhythms, used to communicate across regions. In these beats, you can hear the movement of the gazelle fleeing through the desert, the laborer working the land, or the flapping wings of a bird. Using traditional African percussion alongside electric guitars, violin, and flute, rhythm and melody come together in a truly distinctive sound. Their new album once again shows off the band’s deep, infectious groove—it’s hard to sit still when the music hits, because these beats were made to move you.
Omarhaba is a Moroccan vocalist, songwriter, and composer whose music bridges tradition and innovation. Deeply rooted in Gnawa, Hassani and Amazigh musical history, his sound draws from a rich tapestry of ancestral rhythms and melodies. In 2012, he founded the group Manina, bringing this heritage to stages across Morocco and Europe. Now performing solo under the name Omarhaba: a blend of his own name and the Arabic word for “welcome”, he invites listeners into a warm, borderless space where peace, love, and shared culture take center stage.
