I’ve made many working stays with a family in the south-east of Morocco on the cusp of the Great Sahara. One day, I heard sounds which were unfamiliar to me, sounds played by Berber-speaking Gnaoua from a village farther away. The music vibrated in me. To begin with, I went and listened, got to know their dances and songs. When I came back to France, I read up about their culture with the help of specialists. Then I went back to live with one of the Gnaoua families. When we had established bonds, I was able to observe and photograph whiffs of life, their rites (music, songs, dance, transes) in a casual way, particularly during their celebrations. I also went to meet the Gnaoua in Essaouria where I took part in lilahs with the Sudani family.
