The Hamadcha of Zehroun

In a small village in the Zerhoun Mountains of Morocco, during the days following the moussem — the celebration marking the Prophet’s birthday — pilgrims gather at the shrine of Sidi Ahmed. These gatherings take place around the mausoleum of the saint, a place associated with his baraka (divine blessing), where ritual practices are carried out in his presence.

The Hamadcha are a Sufi brotherhood founded in the 17th century, known for their distinctive musical repertoire and their organisation around collective gatherings at the shrine. During these moments, participants engage in practices that include rhythmic music, chanting and movements associated with altered states of consciousness.

Within this context, certain practices are linked to interactions with the djinn, understood as spirits present within individuals, expressed through movement, cries and vocalisations during ritual sequences. The musicians accompany these moments through rhythm and sound, structuring the progression of the gathering.

This work has been exhibited.