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The Moroccan documentary “The Magic of the Hajhouj” has won a Gold Award at the Telly Awards in the United States in the cultural documentary category, marking a new international distinction for a production centered on Morocco’s musical and cultural heritage.
The film was developed and written by Moroccan journalist Mohamed Hafidi and directed by Abdelilah Moujani. It was produced by Asharq Documentary, with production services handled by 7 Art Media.
The award was announced as part of the 2026 edition of the Telly Awards, a US-based competition established in 1979 that recognizes television, documentary, and digital productions. According to information released in connection with the award, this year’s edition drew more than 13,900 entries from around the world.
The Gold Award extends a run of international recognition for Hafidi and Moujani. In 2025, the Moroccan duo won Silver and Bronze awards for the documentaries “Al Haouz Earthquake… At the Mercy of Tents” and “The Indian Dream,” both broadcast on Asharq Documentary.
The latest win brings their tally to three Telly Awards across two consecutive editions, progressing from Bronze and Silver to Gold and highlighting the growing presence of Moroccan professionals in international competitions dedicated to documentary and audiovisual production.
Filmed entirely in Essaouira, “The Magic of the Hajhouj” explores the world of the “hajhouj”, also known as the “guembri” or “sintir”, an instrument at the heart of Morocco’s Gnawa musical tradition.
The documentary examines the instrument’s cultural, human, and spiritual dimensions while highlighting the artisans who build it, the musicians who keep its sound alive, and the custodians of traditions that have ensured its transmission across generations.
It also traces the “hajhouj’s” reach beyond Morocco and its influence across different musical experiences, combining visual storytelling with documentary accounts of the people connected to the instrument and its heritage.
Film documents Gnawa tradition and its contemporary voices
The film features a range of artists, craftspeople, and cultural figures, including musician Hind Ennaira and artist Younes Baco, son of the late Baco, a prominent figure associated with the Moroccan group Nass El Ghiwane. It also includes contributions from “hajhouj” makers, representatives of Gnawa zaouias, and figures active in the cultural, artistic, and tourism sectors.
The documentary’s subject carries particular significance given the international recognition of Gnawa culture. In 2019, Gnawa was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
The project was created by a Moroccan technical and artistic team. Walid Moujani served as director of photography, Imane Tadaout oversaw production management, Mehdi Bouaroua handled editing, and Mounir Hebat El Idrissi was responsible for sound engineering, alongside Hafidi on concept development and preparation, and Moujani on directing.
Commenting on the award, Hafidi said he dedicated the distinction to King Mohammed VI, describing the documentary as part of a broader effort to promote Morocco’s cultural heritage and introduce its diverse traditions to international audiences through documentary storytelling.
Hafidi also acknowledged Asharq Documentary for its confidence in Moroccan talent and shared the award with director Moujani, the film’s crew, and all those who contributed to the project.
The latest distinction adds to Hafidi’s professional record in journalism and documentary production. In 2015, he won Morocco’s Grand National Press Prize for Best Television Investigation for a report produced for the program “45 Minutes,” broadcast on Al Aoula. He has also contributed to documentary films and programs for several Arab and international broadcasters.
Moujani, meanwhile, has built experience across more than 20 documentary and television productions for national and international outlets. He has also directed short films screened at international festivals. “The Magic of the Hajhouj” marks his third documentary collaboration with Asharq Documentary.
The Gold Award for “The Magic of the Hajhouj” further expands the international visibility of Moroccan documentary productions focused on culture and heritage, while underscoring the role of documentary filmmaking in presenting Morocco’s intangible heritage to wider audiences.
