The last master of Gnawa metal
- Over his lifetime, Abdelkader has forged more than 600 qraqebs by hand
- These hend-held instruments are played by maâllems across many territories
- For now, he has no clear succession for the future of his practice
In the forge-lit alleys of Marrakech’s blacksmith souk, Abdelkader El Bouni, also known as Abdelkader ould Abdenbi El Ghrab, keeps alive the raw pulse of Gnawa music through his metalwork. A trained blacksmith, he handcrafts qraqeb, which are heavy iron castanets coveted by musicians across Morocco and beyond. Each pair is numbered, a mark of its future owner, for almost every notable Gnawa maâllem plays Abdelkader’s instruments. Born into a Gnawa family himself, Abdelkader hammers, shapes and engraves each piece by hand with tireless devotion, preserving a sound and a spirit that echo centuries of history and ritual. As it stands in 2025, Abdelkader is the last master artisan to uphold this tradition with rigour and mastery. No apprentice has stepped forward, so the lineage may end with him.
Interview
- How did you learn this rare craft?
- My father was a guembri master, so I grew up surrounded by Gnawa rhythms. I would watch the blacksmiths at work, fascinated by the fire and the sound of metal. One day I tried forging my own qraqeb. It took years of cutting, hammering, and listening before I found the tone that truly speaks.
- What makes a perfect pair of qraqeb?
- It is all about balance: weight, resonance and power. Too light and they sound hollow, too heavy and they lose their swing. I shape each cup by hand, using old motorcycle parts as moulds. Each pair bears a number, tied to the musician who will own and play it.
- Do these instruments hold a deeper meaning?
- Some say qraqeb are born from the chains once carried by enslaved Africans, their pain turned into rhythm, into freedom. I do not know if that is true, but I feel it. When I strike the metal, I hear the voices of ancestors dancing to the same sound.
- What future do you see for this tradition?
- Few young people want to learn this craft. It is hard work, and cheap factory versions flood the markets. But true Gnawa musicians know the difference. My dream is to pass this knowledge on to someone who loves it as much as I do. Until then, I forge on, pair by pair.
Abdelkader El Bouni is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1970
Where
Abdelkader El Bouni
