21-05-2025
Tijaniyya Resonance in Fez: A Night of Sufi Devotion and Deep Roots
Fez – On Tuesday evening, the gardens of Jnan Sbil swelled with spiritual fervor as the National Tijani Samaa Group, led by Mohcine Nourrach, took the stage for one of the most anticipated evenings of the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music.
Twelve vocalists, dressed in traditional white, filled the air with sacred praise poems and devotional chants.
From the moment the first verse rang out, the audience was pulled into a state of collective reverence.
These were not just songs. They were centuries-old invocations, echoing the spiritual teachings of Tijani masters and infused with Morocco's rich musical tradition.
Founded in the late 18th century by Ahmad al-Tijani, the Tijaniyya order quickly spread across North and West Africa.
Its teachings emphasize direct remembrance of God (dhikr), regular prayer upon the Prophet, and spiritual discipline, all without the need for retreat or isolation, an approach that made it especially accessible to scholars, tradesmen, and rulers alike.
After al-Tijani's relocation to Fez, the city became the heart of the order. His zawiya (spiritual lodge), where he is buried, remains a revered site of pilgrimage to this day, anchoring Morocco's central role in Tijani religious and cultural life.
For Nourrach and his ensemble, the performance was both a privilege and a prayer. 'Our constant aim is to enrich the global samaa repertoire with the poems of these celebrated poets,' he told Morocco World News, referencing figures like Al Arabi ibn al-Saih and Faqih al-Skirrej.
Framed by the sacred presence of Sheikh Ahmad al-Tijani's mausoleum, the night echoed with devotion, bridging poetic legacy, spiritual longing, and Morocco's enduring role in the Sufi musical tradition.
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It went beyond a simple act of preservation to become a live transmission of heritage. The group performed odes by iconic Tijani poets such as Sidi Ibrahim Niasse and Al Arabi ibn al-Saih, as well as lesser-known yet deeply influential voices like al-Kansusi.
Each chant served as a bridge between Fez and the rest of Africa, between the past and the present, between art and divine remembrance.
While rooted in Moroccan samaa, the performance also nodded to the transcontinental scope of the Tijani order.
The order's spiritual and cultural footprint is vast, with followers spanning from Senegal to Sudan.
That breadth was felt in every rhythm and refrain performed at Tuesday's concert, making the event not just a local celebration but a pan-African homage.
Now in its 28th edition, the Fez Festival of Sacred Music continues to position itself as more than a cultural event: it is a spiritual convergence.
Over 200 artists from 15 countries have gathered under the theme of unity through sacred sound, transforming the city into a living sanctuary of intercultural dialogue and spiritual exploration.
On this particular night, however, it was Tijanny poetry that took center stage. And in doing so, it reminded everyone in attendance that some of the most powerful forms of connection don't need translation, they just need to be heard with the heart. Tags: Fez festivalfez festival world sacred musicsufi festivalSufi music
