''Fidjeri'' ( Arabic: الفجيري; sometimes spelled ''fijri'' or ''fidjeri'') is the specific repertoire of vocal music sung by the pearl divers of Eastern Arabia's coastal Gulf states, especially Bahrain and Kuwait. A lead singer is backed up by a

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...

of accompanying singers and clapping. The accompanying instruments to a ''fidjeri'' ensemble are a small double-sided hand-

drum The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a she ...

, known as the '' mirwās'' ( ar, المرواس) and the ''jāhlah'' ( ar, 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 subgenres of Hasawi and Mkholfi respectively. Bahri and Adsani are the two main genres. Pearl diver singers are referred to in Arabic as ''nahham'' ( ar, نهام).

Salem Allan Salem al-Allan (1914 – 25 September 1981) was a popular Fijiri singer from Bahrain. He was born in Galali,Bahrain, Galali, a village in Muharraq Governorate. Biography Allan was born in the village of Galali, Bahrain, Galali in Muharraq Gover ...

and Ahmad Butabbaniya are two of the most well-known fijiri singers from Bahrain.

References

External links

Youtube clip of The Ghalali traditional music and dance group performing a Fijiri song in a village near Muharraq, Bahrain, October 7 2009
Bahraini music Arabic music Kuwaiti music Arab culture Pearls Emirati music

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