Gnawa Embroidery (Morocco)

A Gnawa musician in a traditional outfit with beadwork, cowry shells, embroidery and tassels. A Gnawa musician in a traditional outfit with beadwork, cowry shells, embroidery and tassels. Photograph by Gilllian Vogelsang-Eastwood, Fes, 2010.

The Gnawa are an ethnic minority in Morocco, whose ancestors can be traced back to slaves that were moved from sub-Saharan Africa, notably Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. The outfits worn by many Gnawa musicians in Morocco include belts and bandoleers decorated with applied work with cowrie shells. In addition, some wear a cap decorated with a long tassel, some embroidery and again cowry shells.

Source: VOGELSANG-EASTWOOD, Gillian and Caroline STONE (2016). 'Embroidery from Morocco', in: Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood (ed.), Encyclopedia of Embroidery from the Arab World, Bloomsbury Academic, pp. 188-209, esp. p. 209.

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Last modified on Monday, 17 April 2017 18:04