Born in Casablanca in 1980, Ismail Rahil grew up in an Issaoua and Gnaoua zaouia where his father, Moqaddem Haj Mustapha Rahil, initiated him into the art of trance when he was just a child. At the age of 14, Rahil played with several local traditional music groups, and eventually mastered the guembri. Ismail began his apprenticeship with the late Maâlem Hmida Boussou, then went on to join Maâlem Abdennabi El Gadari in his troupe, before becoming a maâlem in his own right and with his own troupe, “Oulad Bambra”. Since then, Ismail Rahil has continued to tour the world. He performed for a year at Epcot in Disney World, where he shattered all records with over 300 performances. Ismail Rahil’s first album, Aicha, proved to be a great hit with world music fans.