El Maâllem
Mahmoud Guinia (Guinea)

Born in Essaouira 1951 – 2 August 2105

The Splendid Master Gnawa Musicians of Morocco. “Maâllem Mahmoud Guinia” ( محمود ﯕينيا‎)

The Gnaoua instruments :
– 3 stringed percussive lute (guembri)
– Large metal castanets (qraqeb)
– Drums (ganga)

Maâllem Mahmoud Guinia (the King) orGania (actual spelling in passport).
He is the son of the late Maâllem Boubker Gnaia, and his two brothers Abdelah andMokhtar are also distinguished maâllemin (masters). The Gania Family does also include Zaida Gania, who is a very popular medium and clairvoyant at the nights of trance (leelas) as well as the head of a group of female gnawas, The Haddarate of Essaouira.