New date announced for Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou’s Songlines Encounters show

Gnawa artist Asmâa Hamzaoui will take to the stage for a rescheduled date of the Songlines Encounters Festival 2024. Originally set to perform at the festival in May, the highly anticipated performance will now take place Sunday July 28 and promises an evening filled with the trance-like sounds of Gnawa music.

Gnawa music, characterised by its hypnotic rhythms and spiritual depth, has long been a male-dominated domain. Women have historically taken a backseat, partaking in Gnawa rituals more than in its music. But as the daughter of a respected Gnawa maalem (master), Asmâa Hamzaoui stands out as a trailblazer for female Gnawa musicians in North Africa. She is joined by her group Bnat Timbouktou (Daughters of Timbuktu), an all-female group that are also part of the new wave changing the trend.

Asmâa Hamzaoui’s debut album, Oulad Lghaba, released under the Swedish label Ajabu! Records, garnered international acclaim and was nominated for a Songlines Music Award. This May, the group released their powerful second album, L’bnat, which was included as a Top of the World in Songlines #198.

This summer, Asmâa Hamzaoui is bringing the Gwana sound to a plethora of European festivals, including Roskilde, BAM in Barcelona and WOMAD. 

Asmâa Hamzaoui & Bnat Timbouktou are playing Kings Place, London on July 28. Tickets available from the Kings Place website.