- artist:Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou
- event type:WOMEX 19 Showcase
- date:26 Oct 2019
- time:13:00 - 14:00
- city/area:Tampere
- venue:Daycase Stage, Maestro, Tampere Hall
- country:Finland
- event posted by:Piranha Arts
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Asmâa Hamzaoui and Bnat Timbouktou (the daughters of Timbuktu) represent a new generation of young women Gnawa performers, breaking new ground in a traditionally patriarchal realm. Asmâa Hamzaoui assimilated the Gnawa musical tradition from a young age through her father, renowned musician Rachid Hamzaoui, learning to play the guembri (three-string lute) from an early age and later accompanying him at celebrations. She formed Bnat Timbuktu in 2012, gradually winning over audiences, until their breakthrough invitation to the Gnaoua Festival of Essaouira in 2017.
Their taboo-busting performance, and jamming with Fatoumata Diawara, won them invitations to major festivals in Europe and the USA, even without a recording to their name. Asmâa still comes up against opposition from some Gnawa traditionalists but as she says: “They can talk, but here I am working and they’re just talking.”
Asmâa Hamzaoui - lead vocals, guembri
Aicha Hamzaoui - vocals, qraqab
Soukaina Elmeliji - vocals, qraqab
Lamgammah Hind - vocals, qraqab