Gnawi

Mohamed Mounir, known by his stage name Gnawi, is a Moroccan rapper born on October 28, 1988 in Salé. His career began in 2008 when he joined the group Larmy Sla, a name inspired by his experience in the Moroccan army. In 2019, he really came into his own with the single "3acha cha3b" ("Long live the people"), in collaboration with Lz3er and Weld L'Griya. The song, which openly criticizes the Moroccan authorities and tackles sensitive subjects, becomes a real phenomenon, with over 16 million views in just two weeks. However, a few days after the track's release, on November 1, 2019, Gnawi was arrested and accused of insulting the police in an Instagram video. On November 25, 2019, he was sentenced to a year in prison, prompting a wave of international protests, including from Amnesty International, which denounced an attack on freedom of expression. Despite this ordeal, Gnawi continues to produce music and remains an influential voice of committed Moroccan rap.

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