MAÂLEM DRISS ESSAMLALI

Marrakech native Driss Essamlali aptly represents the new generation of Gnaoua Maâlems. He is both rigorous and completely devoted to his art form and has gradually imposed himself on the Moroccan scene through a practice anchored in tradition, yet curious about the world. In 2024, he joined the intensive Yerma Gnaoua training programme under the direction of the Berklee College of Music, a milestone that enhanced his sense of play and exchange with other musical languages, without ever abandoning the essence of his heritage. This experience proved to be a game-changer, establishing him as an artist. A young artist who is determined to bring the Tagnouite to life with perfectionism and creativity. In 2025, Driss Essamlali reached new heights when he took to the stage in the context of the Gnaoua Révélation concert, designed to celebrate the heirs to a tradition in perpetual reinvention.