The Djema'a el Fna, or Square, of Marrakech is alive with activity. Tourists pass by, Moroccans from the country arrive for a day in the city and gawk at the entertainers, Marrakechis move along on their business.

One of the prominent entertainment acts often in the Square are these dancers, musicians, and acrobats--all in one. These are the Ganaoua (prounounced ga-now-wa), who are named for their origins, "Guinea." Although they say they are from Guinea, far to the south and across the Sahara, they have been in Morocco as long as anyone can remember. They perform in public and also at their own religious festivals, since they form their own, separate, brotherhood in Islam.

The Ganaoua's subsaharan African origins are clear: they are black. In Morocco, race varies from very fair-skinned to very dark, indicating Morocco's location in the world as bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Not only their skin coloration, but their music and dress indicate their origins in Black Africa.

Note the Ganaoua's instruments: they are holding a form of hand percussion instrument which is the original castenet.