After the Blue Door: Afro-Diasporic Music Trip Continued on Residency in Morocco
I cannot encapsulate the experience of visiting the Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira, Morocco in a simple way. Travelling to a place and staying there, with mostly women artists from different art forms, of a similar age, coming together and embodying all of the senses: smelling essential oils, argan and prickly pear infused with amber and fleur d’oranger; tasting exquisite food; seeing artisan products and the hands that continually make them, touching fabrics, jewellery, shoes, and happy cats and of course music. Mainly, however, listening to one of the most divine musical art forms on the planet night in and night out.
This comes during a period of mourning and physical rehabilitation from injury. I could not have expected this light right now. It took me a while to write about, as I wanted to savour it.
How did I get do to this magical trip? I was lucky enough to be one of two musicians chosen for a residency, along with Kechou. We joined a bespoke After The Blue Door week with incredibly talented and fun and by chance, mostly female visual, film and story-telling artists drawn to the journey. I am truly thankful for the Dwayne Rodgers Roaming Residency diggswayne • afterthebluedoor
Watch a short clip of an impromptu performance from my After The Blue Door residency: