MAÂLEM ABDELHANIN RBATI

Abdelhanin El-Kouch, aka Maalem Abdelhanine Rbati, was born in 1982 in Salé, to a family deeply attached to the Gnaoua tradition. He lived and breathed the sacred rhythms and songs of the brotherhood, developing an instinctive connection to this trance music. He began his artistic career in 2000, performing with diverse groups around Morocco and abroad, forging his personal style bit by bit as he absorbed sounds and experiences. In 2010, he founded Groupe Salwân to carry his affirmative vision of the Tagnaouite: true to the spirit of the elders, but open to contemporary forms.

The group gained popularity quickly, thanks to the quality of performance and collective approach. Artist residencies, festivalsm tours… Salwân as become a reference on today’s Gnaoua scene. Maâlem El-Kouch Abdelhanin is now recongnised as one of the pillars of the Rabat scene, marrying respect for heritage to renewal. His commitment to transmission and capacity to bring tradition to life with sincerity and creativity have made him a powerful voice of today’s Gnaoua.