| Duration | 135 min |
A magical night with song and dance
Letting go of everything, getting into a trance and connecting with each other and the spiritual. That, in a nutshell, is a Lila. A Lila is an enchanting Gnawa-ceremony. You'll experience it in Korzo, during a modern, loving Lila evening with Khalil Mounji x DJ Taxi Kabir and Silya Ziani.
A Lila is a ceremony from the Gnawa culture that celebrates the deep spiritual and cultural heritage of this Moroccan community. A Maâlem - master of Gnawa music - leads this ritual and plays the guembri (a traditional, lute-like bass) and the qraqebs (metal castanets) with a group of musicians to put the audience into a trance. A trance that in Gnawa culture serves as a spiritual bridge to communicate with and pay homage to holy spirits.
This Lila night features not only classic Gnawa rhythms, but also psychedelic electronica. Gnawa grandmaster Khalil Mounji joins forces with DJ Taxi Kabir; a perfect marriage of the guembri and kaleidoscopic synths. Amazigh singer Silya Ziani also bridges tradition and modernity in her work, closing the evening with her powerful and sensitive songs.
The Morrocan Khalil Mounji is not only a grand master within Gnawa music, but also a pioneer who constantly renews the spiritual and musical depth of this ancient tradition. He traversed Morocco to learn the rich variety of Gnawa rhythms and rituals and weaves this knowledge into his music. His path crossed that of DJ Taxi Kabir, a compatriot known for his groundbreaking electronic productions. What began as a meeting between two musical worlds grew into an experimental fusion of ancient Gnawa mysticism and modern electronic trance: the Gnawa Groove Lab.
In this unique collaboration, the deep, resonant tones of the guembri transform into hypnotic grooves supported by soaring soundscapes, pulsating beats and experimental loops. The powerful handclaps and compelling call-and-response chants from traditional Gnawa rituals are blended with electronic structures, creating an immersive, almost meditative dance experience.
With Gnawa Groove Lab, Khalil Mounji and DJ Taxi Kabir create a sonic journey that takes audiences from the spiritual roots of Gnawa to the deepest caverns of psychedelic electronica. Their music explores themes of spiritual healing, unity and transcendence, completely erasing the divide between tradition and innovation, ritual and rave, inspiration and movement.
Salima Ziani - aka Silya - is a Moroccan singer from Al-Hoceima and a proud Amazigh artist. The Amazigh are the first historically described inhabitants of North Africa. Silya is not only a musician, but also a political activist and even a former political prisoner. In 2017, she received a generous pardon from King Mohammed after being arrested in the Hirak Al-Hoceima protests the same year.
In her music, she draws inspiration from the rich Amazigh traditions and diverse musical heritage of her homeland. Silya's music is a tribute to her roots, while at the same time embracing new sounds and influences. It makes her a spirited performer with sophisticated songs about love, nature, social issues and the human experience.
More than a performer, Silya is an animated interpreter of her identity and heritage. Her songs, characterised by deep emotional resonance and sophisticated compositions, highlight themes of love, nature, social issues and the human experience. In doing so, she creates a universal connection with her audience.
Korzo Studio