MAÂLEM MOHAMED KOUYOU

Immersed from childhood in the world of Tagnaouite, Mohamed Fafy, better known as Maalem Mohamed Kouyou, was introduced to this art by his mother, who took him from an early age to lilas ceremonies and moussems, notably those of Moulay Brahim and Tamesloht. After her passing, he came under the guidance of Maalem Moulay El Hassan, who took him to Casablanca and further refined his training. His talent and passion quickly led to his recognition as a Maalem in 1980 in Marrakech, where he founded his own group and began performing on stages across Morocco. His career took on an international dimension in 1984, when he was selected to open the Moroccan pavilion at Disney World in Florida. He spent a year there, marking the beginning of a long series of tours around the world. Recognized and respected among the great Gnaoua Maâlems, Maalem Mohamed Kouyou both preserves and modernizes this tradition, transmitting his heritage while contributing to the global reach of Gnaoua music far beyond Morocco’s borders.