Fijiri
Fidjeri (Arabic: الفجيري al-fijīrī; 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 mirwās (Arabic: المرواس) and the jāhlah (Arabic: الجاهلة), 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 (Arabic: نهام).
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 Persian Gulf Arab 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.
