Born in 1960 in Essaouira, Abdelaziz Soudani is the third of renowned Maâlem Hajoub Goubani’s six children. He followed in his father’s footsteps and began to train at a very young age. In 1993, he participated in the creation of the Tyour Gnaoua group with Abdeslam Alikkane. He travelled all around the world, performing in many festivals (Festival des Vieilles Charrues in France, Rio de Janeiro Festival in Brazil), until 2002, when he met guitarist Olivier Owen, with whom he founded Gnawa Family X, a fusion group of Gnaoua and electronic music. Abdelaziz Soudani has developed a unique style by using both the guembri’s strings and skin equally, which gives a raw, forceful sound. He continues to train and initiate most young musicians of Essaouira into the art of Gnaoua, in music and in dance.