Maalem Hassan Benjaafar

Maalem Hassan Benjaafar is a master of Gnawa music. The son of esteemed Maalem Abdullah Benjaafar of Fes, he spent his youth learning from and performing with his father and Maalems in every region of Morocco. While still a teenager he was accorded the title of Maalem, which can only be bestowed by a consensus of other Maalems.  He is the lead singer and artistic director of Innov Gnawa and was nominated for a Grammy in 2017 for Bambra Koyo Ganda, a song he adapted for Bonobo from traditional Gnawa repertoire. Maalem lives in New York City, where he performs with Innov Gnawa, as a solo artist and in collaboration with other musicians and conducts lilas, ceremonies where participants are healed through music.