Maâlem Houssam Gania

Son of the legendary Maâlem Mahmoud Gania and heir to an ancestral Gnaoua tradition going back to Ba Massoud, Houssam Gania has the Tagnaouite in his soul. Born in Marrakesh, he grew up in a family deeply rooted in this music, alongside his uncle Mokhtar Gania and his older brother Hamza.

From a young age, he demonstrated expertise of Gnaoua traditions, yet also open to world’s rhythms. His talent combines rigor with hard work, forging his strong musical identity. He first accompanied his father for a concert in Belgium in 2012, launching his journey on the international stage. Two years later, he founded his own group in Essaouira and performed in Morocco, England, and the Netherlands.

In 2016, he made an impression during the tribute concert held for his father and Doudou N’diaye Rose during the Gnaoua and World Music Festival in Essaouira. The same year, he performed on the Mawazine Festival stage for a fusion with Omar Sosa and Mehdi Nassouli, confirming his capacity to transcend music genres.