MAÂLEM NOUREDDINE MEDOULA

Born in 1966 in Safi, Maâlem Noureddine Meddoula is a Gnawa artist whose career is rooted in a long-standing practice of tradition. Trained by Maâlem Razouk Arnouti, he developed an early mastery of the foundations of Tagnaouite. Active in the Gnawa scene since 1986, he became a Maâlem in 1994, gradually establishing his presence within the musical landscape. In 2000, he founded his own group, “Rihab Gnaoua,” with which he has participated in numerous cultural events. He has performed at several national festivals, notably the Sayf Safi Festival (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2017, 2018), as well as the Gnaoua and World Music Festival of Essaouira (2013, 2014, 2018). Alongside his stage performances, he regularly leads traditional lila ceremonies, preserving the ritual dimension of this art. Through his journey, Maâlem Noureddine Meddoula embodies a practice deeply rooted in Gnawa tradition, centered on transmission, experience and ritual.