Syncretic Islamic communities & their music

Syncretism from an Islamic perspective: spirit propitiation/healing groups and practices combining Islamic and sub-saharan Africa: Gnawa and Zar

Tuesday (10a)

Due

Read/skim and review one of the following two (depending on your interests - your choice!):

1. Yaresan (Ahl al-Haqq): Introduction and Chapter 5 from “God First and Last". Religious Traditions and Music of the Yaresan of Guran, by Philip G. Kreyenbroek
2. Bektashi and Alevi: The Role of Expressive Culture in the Demystification of a Secret Sect of Islam: The Case of the Alevis of Turkey, by Irene Markoff. The World of Music, Vol. 28, No. 3, Islam (1986), pp. 42-56 (15 pages)

Watch and review: "Gnawa Music - Body and Soul" (if you have trouble with the link, search for the title in Films on Demand)

What connections can you perceive between these traditions? How are they similar or different? Compare and contrast in your review.

You may submit both reviews in one page or less.

Class

Intro to Gnawa and its globalization

Some lilas:

• GnAwA MaRRaKeCh
• Ahmed Bakbou
• Trance of red
• Trance of white
• Red

History: how the Gnawas came to Morocco...

• West African history: general timeline; art timeline; West African timeline, empires of West Africa (BBC); Basil Davidson on Empires of Gold
  • Ghana
  • Mali
  • Songhai
• Islamic history
  • Umayyads in Spain
  • Berber and Arab empires of North Africa
    • al-Murabitun (Almoravids)
    • al-Muwahhidun (Almohads)
    • Saadi dynasty
• [http://archnet.org/authorities/2872 Paul Bowles
  • overview
  • Gnawa[1]

Gnawa fusions: jazz, funk, hiphop, festival

• Randy Weston [2](jazz)
• Hassan Hakmoun: Gnawa fusion
• Sidi Yasser: Gnawa fusion
• Belikemuhammad: hiphop MC (Anas Canon?
• Gnawa festival[3]

Student presentations as per above.

Thursday (11b)

GNAWA and ZAR

Due

• Read/listen/watch:
  • Browse sites and watch videos associated with two folkloric centers in Cairo:
    • Makan:
      • Mazaher[4]
      • Video
    • El Mastaba
      • [5]
      • [6][7]
      • [8]
  • Read: Liminal Rites and Female Symbolism in the Egyptian Zar Possession Cult, Richard Natvig, Numen, Vol. 35, Fasc. 1 (Jul., 1988), pp. 57-68 Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3270140
• Write: one page on similarities and differences between Gnawa and Zar. Consider: the people, the ritual, the music - but also the ways this music has been folklorized and turned international. How, when, and where does the performance retain a spiritual significance, and why is that significance at other times and places eliminated? What are the reasons why the two traditions may be similar? Why are there differences? Submit this page on 10b (eClass).

Class

• Those who didn't present a reading on Gnawa last time, please do so this time.
• Introduction to Zar
  • Critical reading of the article by Natvig (Sharqiya Governorate in Egypt).
  • Iranian zar
  • Sudanese zar from Sudan
  • Egyptian Zar: very similar to dhikr; even same musicians. Note male musicians; female adepts and patients.
    • Zar at Makan
    • House Zar
    • Sufi hadra at Ali Zayn al-Abidin in Cairo
  • Sudanese Zar in Egypt: The Tanbura[9][10][11]. The British Museum displayed this beautiful Sudanese tanbura, known locally as "kissar".
  • Rango documentary (CSL component by Mariem Oloroso, Music of the Arab World, fall 2014); Rango zar ceremony. More videos from the Rango website
• Zar in the global bellydance scene
• Folklorization (El Mastaba, Makan), world music presence, belly dance element...(use of ayub rhythm). How are these musics promoted for general consumption? Distortions, exaggerations? (Be critical!)
• Discussion: comparison of Gnawa and Zar; spirit/healing groups in Islam...
• Zar-Gnawa fusion in Cairo!