Fijiri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fidjeri (Arabic: فجيري; sometimes spelled fijri or fidjeri) is the specific repertoire of vocal music sung by the pearl divers of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf (especially Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar). A lead singer is backed up by a chorus of accompanying singers and clapping. The accompanying instruments to a fidjeri ensemble are a small double-sided hand-drum, known as the mirwas and the jahlah, a clay pot played with both hands.
There are eight genres of fijiri: Sanginni (sung on the beach, not on the boat), Bahri, Adsani, Mkholfi, Haddadi, Hasawi, Zumayya, and Dan, the last two actually being sub-genres of Hasawi and Mkholfi respectively. Bahri and Adsani are the two main genres. Pearl diver singers are referred to in Arabic as nahham.
Salem Allan and Ahmad Butabbaniya are two of the most well-known fijiri singers from Bahrain.
[edit] See also
- Music of Bahrain
- Music of Kuwait
- Ardha
- Sawt (music)
- Yowla
- M'alayah
- Liwa (music)
- Culture of the Arab Gulf states
[edit] Further reading
- Various artists (2000). Fidjeri:Songs of the Bahrain Pearl Divers (CD). UNESCO. ASIN B00000AU93.
- Rovsing Olsen, Poul (2002). Music in Bahrain. David Brown Book Company. ISBN 87-88415-19-8.
- Various artists (1995). A Musical Anthology of the Arabian Peninsula, Volume 2 - Music of the Pearl Divers (CD). Gallo. ASIN B000004A2D.
