☰Gnaoua World Music Festival

Held each June in Essaouira, the Gnaoua Festival is one of Africa's biggest free music events — half a million people flood the coastal town for three days. Gnaoua music is rooted in West African spiritual healing traditions, characterized by chiming cymbals (qraqeb) and hypnotic call-and-response vocals, and the festival pairs Gnaoua masters (maâlems) with international jazz, blues, and fusion artists. Stages are set up throughout the medina and on the beachfront. The town itself is worth visiting for its ramparts, relaxed atmosphere, and Atlantic seafood.