OVER DEZE AFLEVERING
In this episode of Sanctuary, host Rhiannon Giddens dives into the spiritual North African tradition of Gnawa music with Moroccan master Mehdi Nassouli. Mehdi shares the roots of his instrument, the guembri, its ancestral connection to the banjo, and the transformative power of lila healing ceremonies. Plus, Egyptian musician and educator Karim Nagi explores how Arabic rhythmic repetition and communal dances like the dabkeh serve as tools for resilience, cultural pride, and building community.
Featured Guests:
Mehdi Nassouli – Guembri player, vocalist, master Gnawa musician, and Silkroad collaborator
Dr. Angela Wellman – Founding Director of the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music
Karim Nagi – Egyptian musician, educator, and founder of the Arabiqa program
For more on Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual, visit silkroad.org
