ليلة الكناوة | Gnawa Music Night
"A Gnawa musician discovers passion with a woman who falls into trance during a healing ceremony in Essaouira."
ليلة الكناوة
Gnawa Music Night
الفصل الأول | Chapter One
أَنَا مُوسِيقِيٌّ كَنَاوِيٌّ فِي الصُّوَيْرَةِ.
I am a Gnawa musician in Essaouira.
أَعْزِفُ القَرَاقِبَ وَأُغَنِّي لِلْأَرْوَاحِ.
I play the qraqeb and sing for the spirits.
جَاءَتْ إِلَى لَيْلَةِ الشِّفَاءِ تَبْحَثُ عَنِ السَّلَامِ.
She came to the healing night seeking peace.
الفصل الثاني | Chapter Two
امْرَأَةٌ فِي الخَمْسِينَ، بِعُيُونٍ تَحْمِلُ أَلَمًا.
A woman in her fifties, with eyes carrying pain.
"أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَنْسَى..." قَالَتْ.
"I want to forget..." she said.
"المُوسِيقَى سَتَحْمِلُكِ بَعِيدًا."
"The music will carry you far."
الفصل الثالث | Chapter Three
بَدَأَتِ الطَّبُولُ وَالقَرَاقِبُ.
The drums and qraqeb began.
دَخَلَتْ فِي غَيْبُوبَةٍ مَعَ الإِيقَاعِ.
She entered a trance with the rhythm.
جَسَدُهَا المُمْتَلِئُ يَتَمَايَلُ كَالمَوْجِ.
Her full body swaying like waves.
الفصل الرابع | Chapter Four
رَأَيْتُ الأَرْوَاحَ تَلْعَبُ بِهَا.
I saw the spirits playing with her.
"اللَّهُ... اللَّهُ..." كَانَتْ تُرَدِّدُ.
"Allah... Allah..." she was repeating.
اِقْتَرَبْتُ مِنْهَا وَأَمْسَكْتُ يَدَهَا.
I approached her and held her hand.
الفصل الخامس | Chapter Five
بَعْدَ انْتِهَاءِ اللَّيْلَةِ، فَتَحَتْ عَيْنَيْهَا.
After the night ended, she opened her eyes.
"مَاذَا حَدَثَ لِي؟"
"What happened to me?"
"الأَرْوَاحُ لَمَسَتْكِ... وَأَنَا أَيْضًا."
"The spirits touched you... and so did I."
الفصل السادس | Chapter Six
"أَشْعُرُ بِخِفَّةٍ لَمْ أَعْرِفْهَا مِنْ قَبْلُ."
"I feel a lightness I've never known before."
"هَذَا هُوَ الشِّفَاءُ... لَكِنَّهُ لَيْسَ كَامِلاً."
"This is healing... but it's not complete."
"مَا الَّذِي يَنْقُصُ؟"
"What is missing?"
الفصل السابع | Chapter Seven
"يَنْقُصُكِ الاِتِّصَالُ البَشَرِيُّ."
"You lack human connection."
أَخَذْتُهَا إِلَى غُرْفَتِي المُطِلَّةِ عَلَى البَحْرِ.
I took her to my room overlooking the sea.
"سَأُكْمِلُ شِفَاءَكِ اللَّيْلَةَ."
"I will complete your healing tonight."
الفصل الثامن | Chapter Eight
عَلَى إِيقَاعِ الأَمْوَاجِ، لَا القَرَاقِبِ.
To the rhythm of waves, not the qraqeb.
اكْتَشَفْنَا شِفَاءً آخَرَ.
We discovered another healing.
"جَسَدُكَ مُوسِيقَى لِرُوحِي."
"Your body is music to my soul."
الخاتمة | Conclusion
مُوسِيقَى الكَنَاوَةِ تَشْفِي الأَرْوَاحَ.
Gnawa music heals souls.
لَكِنَّ بَعْضَ الأَرْوَاحِ تَحْتَاجُ أَكْثَرَ.
But some souls need more.
تَحْتَاجُ لَمْسَةً بَشَرِيَّةً دَافِئَةً.
They need a warm human touch.
من حكايات الصويرة From the Tales of Essaouira