Music of Yemen
Encyclopedia
Yemen
is a country on the Arabian Peninsula
, and the music of Yemen is primarily known abroad for a series of pan-Arab popular stars and the Yemenite Jews
who became musical stars in Israel
during the 20th century. In the Arab world, Yemen has long been a cultural capital.
Yemen's national anthem is "United Republic
" written by Abdallah "al-Fadhool" Abdulwahab Noman. This is a great piece of music.
UNESCO
proclaimed the tradition of poetic songs of Sana'a
, called al-Ghina al-San'ani, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
on November 7, 2003.
Traditional Yemenite music is usually performed in the home, in a window-lined room at the top of the house called a mafraj during a khat
chew, in which the performers chew a mildly psychoactive stimulant
leaf. This form of performance uses sung poetry and is called homayni; it is a tradition that dates to the 14th century. Two of the most famous Yemenite musicians, Ahmed Fathey and Osama al Attar, are now resident in the United Arab Emirates
. The urban homayni style known in the capital of Yemen, Sanaan singing, is the most well-known kind of homayni today http://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/yemen2.shtml.
There is a large Yemeni-Welsh community in Cardiff
and other major Welsh cities. Yemeni folk music has thus become a major part of the Welsh music
scene.
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
is a country on the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
, and the music of Yemen is primarily known abroad for a series of pan-Arab popular stars and the Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews are those Jews who live, or whose recent ancestors lived, in Yemen . Between June 1949 and September 1950, the overwhelming majority of Yemen's Jewish population was transported to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet...
who became musical stars in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
during the 20th century. In the Arab world, Yemen has long been a cultural capital.
Yemen's national anthem is "United Republic
United Republic
United Republic is a centre-right political party in France launched by Dominique de Villepin, a former Prime Minister, on 18 June 2010....
" written by Abdallah "al-Fadhool" Abdulwahab Noman. This is a great piece of music.
UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
proclaimed the tradition of poetic songs of Sana'a
Sana'a
-Districts:*Al Wahdah District*As Sabain District*Assafi'yah District*At Tahrir District*Ath'thaorah District*Az'zal District*Bani Al Harith District*Ma'ain District*Old City District*Shu'aub District-Old City:...
, called al-Ghina al-San'ani, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness on intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural...
on November 7, 2003.
Folk music
Khat
Khat, qat, gat or Waquish Spoken from true Yemeni, is a flowering plant native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula....
chew, in which the performers chew a mildly psychoactive stimulant
Stimulant
Stimulants are psychoactive drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among others...
leaf. This form of performance uses sung poetry and is called homayni; it is a tradition that dates to the 14th century. Two of the most famous Yemenite musicians, Ahmed Fathey and Osama al Attar, are now resident in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. The urban homayni style known in the capital of Yemen, Sanaan singing, is the most well-known kind of homayni today http://www.rootsworld.com/reviews/yemen2.shtml.
There is a large Yemeni-Welsh community in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and other major Welsh cities. Yemeni folk music has thus become a major part of the Welsh music
Music of Wales
Wales has a strong and distinctive link with music. The country is traditionally referred to as "the land of song". This is a modern stereotype based on 19th century conceptions of Nonconformist choral music and 20th century male voice choirs, Eisteddfodau and arena singing, such as sporting...
scene.
Yemeni musicians
- Abubakr Salim Balfaqih
- Ahmad as-Sunaydar
- Ahmad Qasim
- Ahmed Fathey
- Ali al-Aanisi
- Ali as-Simah
- Ayoob Tarish Absi
- Faisal Alawi
- Fouad al-Kibsy
- Jamil Ghanim
- Muhammad Hamood al-Harithi
- Muhammad Murshid Naji