The Master Musicians of Joujouka paid tribute to Brian Jones, on the 50th anniversary of his visit to their village in 1968, with their annual festival in Joujouka and a series of events in Marrakech, including a concert for Atlas Electronic.
Jones visited the village on 2nd August 1968 with Mohamed Hamri and was accompanied by Brion Gysin, Jones’ girlfriend Suki Potier and Olympic Studios recording engineer George Chkiantz.
Using a portable Uher two-track tape recorder Jones made recordings during his visit to Joujouka that where mixed by Jones on his return to London for what became the album Brian Jones Presents The Pipes Of Pan At Joujouka, released after his death in 1971 on Rolling Stones Records.
In his liner notes for the LP Jones said: “I don’t know if I have the stamina to endure the incredible constant strain of the festival.”
The Master Musicians of Joujouka performed a four-hour set at Villa Janna in Marrakech on 30th June 2018, with live visuals by Joachim Montessuis, that featured footage and images of the Master Musicians and Brian Jones to commemorate the 50 years since his visit.
Current leader of the Master Musicians of Joujouka, Ahmed El Attar said: “I was 12-years-old learning drumming with my father and the Mallimin (Masters) when Brian Jones came. Brian Jones was very good. My father played rhaita with and for him and I danced and played my drum. He came with Hamri and Gysin. He had long hair and he rubbed my head. He brought a lot to Joujouka.”
