The term Gnoua/Gnaoua/Gnawa refers firstly to a north african ethnic minority that traces its origins to West African slaves and soldiers. Gnawa communities in the maghreb (morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia) trace their origins to sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, like the term "African-American," Gnawa refers to a group of people whose ancestors came from diverse regions of Africa but took on a collective identity in exile. Secondly the term is used to define a religious/spiritual order consisting of aforementioned Moroccan Black Muslims, and thirdly a music style connected to this order.

Read more about Gnoua Brotherhood of Marrakesh on Last.fm.