Morocco’s Gnaoua spiritual tradition combines music, color, incense, and ritual to guide participants through sacred healing ceremonies known as lila. The practice is rooted in the heritage of the Gnaoua people, an ethnic group descended from enslaved West Africans, and usually takes place all night. It is led by a maâlem, or master musician, who plays the three-stringed guembri while a chorus provides rhythm using metal castanets. During the ceremony, which unfolds in stages, carefully ordered musical repertoires correspond with seven symbolic colors, each believed to summon specific spirits and facilitate trance experiences. For instance, the color white is associated with peace and holiness, light blue with the sky, and red with blood and warrior spirits. According to practitioners, it is essential to maintain the precise sequence of the ritual to preserve harmony and ensure the well-being of participants.
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