maalem Omar Hayat

Incredible showman, maâlem Omar Hayat is often nickmaned "Jimi Hendrix ogf gumbri".

He has been introduced to Gnawa music by Mahmoud Guinea, but he quickly created his own band in 1991. He is part of the generation of maalems continuing the tradition but paying particularly close attention to stage art. Omar Hayat has his very own style influenced by various musical genres, reggae more particulary.

Being an artist, he knew how to conquer the public of the Essaouira Gnaoua and World Music Festival, as well as of other national and international festival.

Besides Jimi Hendrix, his main influences is Maalem Paco, who was a member of the legendary Moroccan band Nass el Ghiwan. Maleem Omar Hayat can both play very soulfully, with a deep spirituality, in traditional mood and he is also able to be in another energy, close to rock or r’n b. He can even mix with hip hop dancers or electronic musicians (he played with Dj Rupture at the famous "Frost festival" in Copenhagen in 2016). 

He is a tremendous master of gumbri, and as he keeps the frail balance between musical experiences and authenticity, he is both extremely respected among gnawa brotherhoods and by talented musicians all around the world.