Marrakshi songs and loud handclapping

The song above is that of the Gnawi, the South Moroccan ethnic group whose music is more African in origin than Arabic. They regularly perform their hypnotic dance in Djemma El Fna, the central square of Marrakech. The song below is one of the many songs our Moroccan hosts taught us. In Marrakech the song is usually accompanied by clapping your hands while cupping your palms in a way that creates an extraordinary loud cracking sound. It took many tries to master this skill. I still use the Moroccan handclap in Jakarta to call attention to a passing taxi or to grab the attention of a noisy hall full of teenage kids!.