Moroccan Music Instruments: Sounds, History, and Cultural Identity

Music has always played a central role in Moroccan life. From weddings and religious ceremonies to harvest celebrations and spiritual rituals, sound and rhythm shape how communities express joy, faith, and identity. At the heart of this musical tradition are instruments that reflect Morocco’s diverse cultural roots, including Amazigh, Arab, Andalusian, Sub-Saharan African, and Saharan influences.

Understanding Moroccan music instruments offers insight into the country’s layered history and the values of the people who created and preserved these sounds.

The Cultural Role of Music in Morocco

Moroccan music is deeply communal. It is rarely performed for passive listening alone; instead, it accompanies dance, prayer, storytelling, and healing rituals. Instruments are often tied to specific regions, ceremonies, or spiritual traditions, making them symbols of identity rather than mere tools for entertainment.

Each instrument carries meaning shaped by geography, belief systems, and social structure.

String Instruments in Moroccan Music

The Oud

The oud is one of the most iconic instruments in Moroccan and broader Arab music. It is a short-necked, pear-shaped lute with a deep, warm tone.

Common in Andalusian and classical Moroccan music

Associated with refinement, poetry, and scholarly traditions

Played seated, often as part of an ensemble

The oud’s presence reflects Morocco’s historical ties to Al-Andalus and the wider Mediterranean world.

The Guembri (Sintir)

The guembri is central to Gnawa music, a spiritual tradition with roots in West Africa.

Three-stringed bass instrument

Made from wood, camel skin, and gut strings

Produces a deep, hypnotic rhythm

The guembri is not only musical but spiritual, used in healing ceremonies known as lila, where rhythm and repetition guide trance and reflection.

The Rebab

The rebab is a bowed string instrument used in Amazigh and traditional folk music.

Often has one or two strings

Produces a raw, expressive sound

Played during storytelling and village gatherings

Its simplicity reflects its origins in rural and nomadic communities.

Percussion Instruments: The Heartbeat of Moroccan Music

The Bendir

The bendir is a frame drum commonly used in Amazigh, Sufi, and folk traditions.

Shallow wooden frame with animal skin

Often includes gut strings inside for vibration

Played by hand

It is frequently used in spiritual ceremonies and group performances, emphasizing unity and rhythm.

The Taarija

The taarija is a small goblet-shaped drum widely used in popular and ceremonial music.

Played with fingers and palms

Common at weddings and celebrations

Produces sharp, lively rhythms

It is often associated with women’s music and festive occasions.

The Krakebs

Krakebs are large metal castanets used in Gnawa music.

Played in pairs

Create a loud, metallic clapping sound

Symbolize chains and historical memory

Their rhythm is repetitive and powerful, reinforcing the spiritual dimension of Gnawa performances.

Wind Instruments in Moroccan Traditions

The Ghaita

The ghaita is a double-reed wind instrument similar to an oboe.

Loud and piercing sound

Played during festivals, weddings, and processions

Often accompanied by drums

It is commonly used outdoors due to its strong projection and celebratory tone.

The Ney

The ney is a reed flute associated with Sufi and contemplative music.

Soft, breathy sound

Used in spiritual and meditative settings

Symbolizes the human soul and longing

Though simple in construction, it requires great skill to master.

Regional Musical Styles and Their Instruments

Moroccan instruments are closely tied to regional musical styles:

Amazigh music: Bendir, rebab, flutes

Gnawa music: Guembri, krakebs, drums

Andalusian music: Oud, violin, qanun

Saharan music: Percussion-heavy, rhythmic chanting

Each region’s instruments reflect its environment, from mountain villages to desert communities.

Craftsmanship and Materials

Traditional Moroccan instruments are handcrafted using locally available materials:

Cedar, walnut, or olive wood

Goat or camel skin

Metal, reeds, and natural fibers

Instrument makers often learn their craft through apprenticeship, passing knowledge from one generation to the next.

Modern Influence and Preservation

Today, Moroccan musicians blend traditional instruments with modern genres such as jazz, fusion, and world music. While innovation continues, there is also a strong effort to preserve traditional sounds through festivals, cultural institutions, and education.

In cities and rural areas alike, these instruments remain symbols of heritage rather than relics of the past.

Conclusion

Moroccan music instruments are more than sound-producing objects; they are carriers of history, spirituality, and identity. Each drumbeat, string vibration, and breath through a flute reflects centuries of cultural exchange and lived experience.

By understanding these instruments, one gains a deeper appreciation for Morocco’s rich and diverse cultural landscape—one where music continues to connect past and present.

Sources

Morocco Family Vacation –Traditional Moroccan Music Instruments

Cultural heritage archives on North African music

Oral histories and academic research on Amazigh and Gnawa traditions

Documentation from Moroccan music festivals and conservatories