MAÂLEM ISSAM BAOUSSI

Maâlem Issam Baâoussi was born in Rabat in 1985, in a house next to a Gnaoui Zaouia. From an early age, the sound of the guembri and the voices of lilas shaped his imagination. At the age of nine, master Mohammed El Asri took him under his wing, introducing him to the secrets of Tagnaouite music in its most authentic form.

After the death of his mentor in 2005, Issam set off on the roads of Morocco to discover other masters and other repertoires. Back in Rabat, he continued his training with Maâlem Abdelkader, then joined Maâlem Hamid El Kasri’s troupe, performing on national and international stages. This partnership enabled him to develop his playing style and discover the subtleties of the repertoire in all its diversity. He founded his own troupe—Issam Art—on the strength of these rich experiences, with the support of several renowned maâlems. His vision is an open but respectful interpretation of Gnaoua, combining rigor, passion, and transmission.