Moussem Ben Aissa

Name: Moussem Ben Aissa
Start: 2025-04-10
End: 2025-04-17
Location: Meknes

Morocco’s Premier Sufi Festival and Springtime Ecstasy

2026/03/22 - 2026/03/29

Every spring, the city of Meknes in Morocco becomes the stage for the Moussem Ben Aissa, enveloped in the energy of faith and celebration honoring the Sufi saint Sidi Mohammed Ben Aissa. For a week, tens of thousands of pilgrims, Sufi brotherhoods, musicians, and travelers gather for trance rituals, music, parades, and feasting. For those seeking mysticism, folklore, and living tradition, this festival is a spiritual journey for all the senses.

The rhythms of drums and flutes, the swirl of white djellabas and green sashes, the scent of incense and roasted lamb, and the fervor of devotees dancing in trance—Moussem Ben Aissa is a festival where faith and folklore, prayer and joy, collide to shake both heart and body.

Main Attractions

Hadra Rituals and Sufi Processions

The core of the festival is the hadra, a Sufi trance ritual. Drumming, chanting, and whirling dances continue for hours as brotherhoods (tariqas) parade through the streets of Meknes with banners and instruments. The climax sees devotees entering deep trance, sometimes performing feats that demonstrate the power of faith.

The Aissawa Brotherhood and Gnawa Music

The Aissawa brotherhood, founded by Ben Aissa, leads with unique choral chants and percussion, joined by Gnawa musicians for a fusion of African, Arab, and Berber rhythms. Cymbals, drums, flutes, and voices fill the night, drawing even onlookers into the circle.

Parades and Carnival Atmosphere

Beyond religious rituals, the festival features fantasia (equestrian performances), acrobatics, and street shows. Squares fill with food stalls, games, sweets, amulets, and souvenirs, while lanterns and banners decorate the city. Nights are alive with music and laughter.

Costumes and Decorations

Devotees and musicians wear white djellabas and green sashes, sometimes with elaborate headdresses. Banners with prayers, colorful lanterns, and woven textiles decorate the city and shrines, enhancing the atmosphere of faith and festivity.

Cultural and Historical Background

The Moussem Ben Aissa began in the 16th century to honor the life and miracles of Sufi saint Sidi Mohammed Ben Aissa. It originated as a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Aissawa brotherhood’s founder and grew into Morocco’s largest Sufi festival, blending Islamic faith, Berber and African traditions, and local folklore. For centuries, it has been a place for healing, prayer, and strengthening community bonds, drawing pilgrims from across the country and beyond.

Today, the moussem is a living symbol of Morocco’s religious diversity and cultural richness, where pilgrims, mystics, and travelers share in the power of faith and celebration.

Participant Voices

I was invited by locals to dance, eat, and learn about Sufi traditions. The warmth was like being welcomed into a family.

Fun Facts

Some devotees perform feats such as fire-walking or piercing their bodies while in trance.
The music of the Aissawa brotherhood is recognized as part of Morocco’s intangible cultural heritage.
The fantasia equestrian performances, with riders firing muskets in unison, are a festival highlight.
It is believed that participating in the moussem brings good fortune and healing for the year ahead.

Festival Dates

The Moussem Ben Aissa is held every spring in Meknes. Experience the parades, rituals, music, and food, and feel the energy of Morocco’s greatest Sufi festival.