Morocco Sufi Music & Sufi Traditions  
Sufism is a mystical and ancient branch of Islam that emphasizes the seeker's path toward perfect harmony with “Allah”, God. The role of Sufi Music in Sufism is that sound and music are the tools believed to be important and utilized in briding a relationship to bring one closer to “Allah”, God. Ultimately Sufis believe that Sufi music will enable them to let go of their physical being so they can embrace their spiritual essence and be one with “Allah”.

Although Sufism is a branch of Islam, it is unique because it focuses on mystical energy and supernatural powers as a source to seek truth or the answer. Sufism also stands out because orthodox Islam is not tolerant of music. Unlike orthodox Islam, Sufism embraces music and believes it is important for mediation and to connect with “Allah”, God. Sufi music is also used to work towards the goal of reaching dhikr.

Dhikr or Mawlid Annabaw involves a situation where a spiritual leader will lead a group an in ritual of concentrating on praising and giving blessings to the prophet, ultimately to draw divine energy and connect with “Allah”, God. The rituals are often practiced in the dark and in complete silence. Always sama, a form central to dhikr is used to help disciples listen with their souls. Sama is the central form of the dhikr and it has the connotation of a spiritual concert of sacred music, often accompanied by dance.

Specific to these trance sessions is Sufi music which involves a lot of singing, listening or whirling in order to awaken the soul and create a spiritual connection where all materialistic attachments are released. 

Sufism sends the message that it is not necessary to wake up empty and frightened, but to listen to Sufi music to bring you strength and to open the door to your heart and to have confidence to do anything.

Sufism offers a message of unity, spiritual liberty, love, harmony and beauty for all mankind. 

There are two main instruments that are used to create Sufi music. One instrument is the Nay from the East (Iran/Anatolia/Uzbekistan/ Pakistan). It is a reed flute that is the symbol of the human soul that must be completely clean and void so it can be liberated. As the reed flute is known for its emptiness, Sufis place importance on it in connecting with God and seld purification.

Another instrument, especially popular in Morocco is the Benedir, a frame drum. It is used to bring about a repetitive sound which often takes the listeners into a trance. African Sufi music uses recurring sounds combined with rhythmic tones.

Sufi Brotherhoods
Sufi brotherhoods (tarikas) are common in Morocco, and music is an integral part of their spiritual tradition, in contrast to most other forms of Islam, which do not use music. Sufi music is an attempt at reaching a trance state which inspires mystical ecstasy. The brothers hold hands in a circle and chant or dance.  

Marrakesh and other regions of Morocco are home to the Gnaoua Brotherhood, which claims descent from the Ethiopian muezzin Sidi Bilal. Gnaoua ceremonies (deiceba) are used to protect against mental illness, scorpion stings and malicious spirits. Deiceba may be related to Sub-Saharan African ceremonies and use a long-necked lute of African origin called the guembri, as well as castanets called garagab.

Other brotherhoods include: Hamadcha (founded by Sidi Ali ben Hamdouch), Aissaoua (founded by Sidi Mohamed ben Aissa, Derkaoua, Haddaoua, Cherkaoua, Dar Damana (the Sufi saints of Ouezzane), and The Master Musicians of Jajouka of the Ahl Srif Mountains.

As one of the most important and popular Sufi Brotherhoods in Morocco the Hamadcha were rightly accorded the honor of opening the Sufi Nights series of late night concerts at the Fes Sacred Music festival in 2008. The Brotherhood was founded in the 17th century by the Holy Saint Sidi Ali Ben Hamdouch and has become famous through the originality of its repertoire, its spellbinding dances, and the trance-therapy skills of its members.

Another well-known local Sufi sect, located in the village of Jajouka within the Ahl Srif Mountains, is The Master Musicians of Jajouka. This Sufi sect commonly flourished near the sanctuary of a local saint. Jajouka musicians play healing music said to be written by their ninth century patron saint Sidi Achmed Schiech. They also perform a ritual called Boujeloud which is likened to the worship of the God Pan.

The Master Musicians of Jajouka are led by Bachir Attar, from the village of Jajouka near Ksar-el-Kebir in the southern Rif Mountains of Northern Morocco. The inhabitants of this small village are from the Ahl Sherif ("the saintly") tribe. The Attar clan of Jajouka is the founding family of Jajouka and keepers of one of the world’s oldest and most unique surviving musical traditions. The music and secrets of Jajouka have been passed down through generations from father to son, by some accounts for as long as 1,300 years. The musicians of Jajouka are taught from early childhood a complex music which is unique to Jajouka, until they finally become malims or masters. They possess Baraka, (good luck) or the blessing of Allah, which gives them the power to heal, and the endurance required to play some of the most intense and complex music around. The Master Musicians of Jajouka are all descendants of one family, the Attars. Attar is a Sufi watchword and a deeply mystical name meaning "perfume maker".

The instruments played by the Master Musicians of Jajouka are a flute called the lira, a double-reed instrument called the rhaita; it is similar to an oboe, but has a louder, more penetrating tone, a drum called the tebel made of goat-skin and played with two wooden sticks and a drum called the tarija.

Sufi music is considered to be part of the Sufi tradition of Islam. Prior to the colonization of Morocco by France and Spain, master musicians of the village were said to be the royal musicians of the sultans. In past centuries master musicians of the Jajouka village traditionally were excused by the country's rulers from manual labor, goat-herding, and farming to concentrate on their music because the music's powerful trance rhythms and droning woodwinds were traditionally considered to have the power to heal the sick.

Sufism and Sufi communities are not just found in Morocco. Since Islam is a religion followed by many other cultures and countries, it is natural that Sufism exists throughout the Muslim world from South and Central Asia through Turkey, Iran, the Levant and northern, eastern and western Africa.

Sufism has a wide geographical range. Each Sufi sect and their music vary greatly from region to region. Yet, despite any changes like the cultural background of the leaders or the language they speak, the ultimate goal of Sufism is universally the same: to lose oneself to free the soul and to become closer with “Allah”, God.