Yemeni Art & Music: Then & Now
It is very normal when you find someone in the Middle East talking about the authenticity of Yemeni art. Apparently, the matter is related to the fact that Yemen has been the center of the Arabian Peninsula since ancient times. Besides, it is the most significant point in linking the Horn of Africa and Central and East Africa with the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, it was a passage for ancient global trade, such as the trade of gums, incense, spices, and silk from East Asia to the Mediterranean.
Today, it still holds that position due to its sovereignty over Bab al-Mandab Strait in the south of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and part of the Indian Ocean.
It seems that Yemeni singing art has taken the lion's share of fame in the Arab world, as Yemen topped the scene before the discovery of petroleum in the Arabian Gulf. The diversity of musical styles contributed to satisfying all Arab tastes. This is evident in Yemeni melodies that crossed borders and are sung by many artists from the Arabian Gulf, representing their cultural depth.
It is also evidenced by the archaeological inscriptions and writings of historians where the ancient Yemenis knew the Oud since before 1000 BC. The Yemeni migrations contributed to spreading Qanbous, a musical instrument, in the countries of East Asia, Turkey, India, and East Africa. Qanbus is a local name for the ancient Yemeni Oud called “Al-Tarabi” in Sana’a and "Al-Qanbous" in Hadramout. It appears in the discovered Yemeni archaeological inscriptions, including an inscription of a woman holding the Oud that characterized the singing art in Sana’a for long periods. Recently, its use appeared in a Yemeni artistic festival held on the banks of the Nile River in Egypt where a young artist played it to show the magnificence of Yemeni art.
Yemeni art has been recognized by UNESCO as it considered that the Sana'ani songs - one of the Yemeni singing styles - is an intangible cultural heritage of humanity and called for its preservation and maintenance. This style usually calls for love and uses excessive flattery, and the words of these songs are often from the Humayni Poetry that adheres to the rules of the classic Arabic Poetry but rather adds words from the Sana’ani dialect. One of the most famous songs of this school is “My Heart Was Captured by the Captivating Eyes” by the Kawkabani poet, who admired his beloved in timeless words that Yemenis have been singing since the fifteenth century.
The modern singing art in Yemen has become very distinguished, and its fans have spread over a large area in the countries of the Middle East. In this regard, creative duets have emerged, namely the poet and the singer. For instance, becoming famous for the Hadhrami color, a great connection is found between the name of Hussein Al-Mihdhar, the poet, with the great singer, Abu Bakr Salem. Additionally, the name of the poet, Al-Fadhul, was associated with the singer, Ayoub Tarish, as they were famous for the Ta'izi style and national songs. Moreover, the connection of the poet, Al-Qamandan, with the singer, Faisal Alawi, in the Lahji color and the songs of Sharah (kind of dance). Each of them has sung different styles that reflect the geographical area where they live and the diverse concerns they carry.
One of the giants of Yemeni art during the last century is the artist Mohammed Murshid “Al-Murshidi”, a Yemeni singer, composer, and music historian (pictured). He is one of the icons of Yemeni music and one of its most prominent innovators. His musical experience spanned about six decades during which he enriched and developed Yemeni music. He also contributed to reviving and disseminating Yemen's rich and diverse musical heritage throughout Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula. He was known for his special and distinguished performance in his songs. He was also known for his passion for the Yemeni singing heritage, which he documented in a number of publications and valuable compositions. The most important of which is his great book "Old Yemeni Singing and its Celebrities." Al-Murshidi professionally sang the Adeni style, his original style. He later sang in classical Arabic, as well as in Yafi'i, Ta'zi, and many other Yemeni musical styles. He won many awards and honors at the local, regional, Arab, and international levels. He died in 2013 at the age of 83. One of his most important songs called "Nashwan" is for the poet Sultan Al-Suraimi. It was a political song that expressed the political situation in southern Yemen before unification, as suggestive language and colloquial words were used to convey particular viewpoints.
Today, Yemeni art is developing in keeping with the changes taking place in music and the effects of the new reality in the world, social media domination, and various societal issues. A new generation of young people has appeared who sing in different styles, become popular, and got a great trend in society and the Arab world. Last but not least, July 1st is designated as the Yemeni Song Day for the purpose of preserving it.
