Trace, Trajectory, and Truth: A Story of Morocco’s Iconic Lute

The guembri is a symbolic artifact of the Black African diaspora in Morocco. An oblong gut-string lute crucial to a syncretic spiritual practice, it was shrouded in secrecy and taboo until the late twentieth century when it gained worldwide popularity. In the early 2000s, the guembri secured its status as an icon of the nation’s openness, diversity, and rich cultural history. Weaving together various strands of knowledge, Dr. Maisie Sum will situate the guembri within the social and musical fabric of contemporary Morocco and beyond to explore its enduring significance for culture bearers.

Maisie Sum is an ethnomusicologist, educator, and performer. Her research and teaching combine a variety of fields, including ethnomusicology, anthropology, music analysis, performance, ritual studies, peace and conflict studies, psychology, and health studies.