Mahmoud Guinia (, and rarely or ; also spelled Gania, Guinea or Khania; 1951 – 2 August 2015) was a Moroccan Gnawa musician, singer and guembri player, who was traditionally regarded as a Maâllem (), i.e. master.
He recorded for both domestic and foreign labels, and collaborated with numerous western musicians.
Life
Mahmoud Gania (or Guinia) was born in 1951 in the city Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. He was the second son of the master of Gnawa music, Maâllem Boubker Gania (1927–2000) and the famous clairvoyant and "moqaddema" A'isha Qabral. His brother Mokhtar Gania - as well as his late brothers Abdellah Gania and Bilal "Lahcen Zitoune"- is a gnawa Maâllem too, and their sister Zaida Gania - and the late Jmeia Gania - is another moqqaddema. Mahmoud Guinia was married to Mallika Al Machhour from Marrakech, with whom he had two sons and a daughter.
Maâlem Mahmoud Gania (or Guinia) died after a lengthy illness on 2 August 2015.