Gnawa as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at Jemaa el-Fna Square

Abstract

Marrakech has an extraordinary history, marked by dazzling periods in its past, and boasts a rich cultural heritage, such as Jamaa El Fna Square. Today, Jamaa El Fna Square is renowned for its Gnawa art, and remains the ideal place to showcase this form of itinerant art. Every year, around one million people visit this lively square.

Since 2001, UNESCO has listed this cultural site as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Gnawa is not only entertainment, it is also a form of therapy for the mind. This music is crucial for preserving cultural diversity in the face of increasing globalization. Preserving Gnawa in Jamaa El Fna as intangible heritage is beneficial to intercultural dialogue and encourages appreciation of other ways of life.

One of the reasons for the renewed national and international interest in Jamaa El Fna Square is the appeal of the performing arts, varied shows, atmospheres, and cultural expressions experienced live and which engage all the senses, probably reflecting an implicit or explicit rejection of an exclusively commercial conception of culture.

For the purposes of our research, we adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. The empirical phase of our research involved a questionnaire survey of 100 tourists, both domestic and international, at Jamaa El Fena Square. The qualitative phase consisted of on-site observation at Jamaa El Fena, as well as interviews and surveys with officials, tourists, and Gnawa artists: storytellers, singers, dancers, musicians, snake charmers, acrobats, and herbalists.

The article asserts that the best preservation strategy lies in active promotion and intergenerational transmission, while raising public awareness of the historical depth of a culture that is often misunderstood or reduced to its superficial aspects.

The article concludes that Gnawa art in Jamaa El Fna is an essential intangible heritage, combining tourist entertainment and ancestral spiritual therapy. Although threatened by globalization, it survives thanks to its recognition by UNESCO and its ability to adapt (musical fusions, innovations). However, its sustainability depends on rigorous oral transmission between generations and better social protection for artists. In short, Gnawa remains a pillar of Moroccan cultural diversity that must be promoted and preserved.

Classification JEL : Z11, Z18, L83, F60, C83

Paper type: Empirical Research