Sana'a, Yemen

This recently established institution holds an archive of traditional Yemeni music, set up in 1998 with assistance from UNESCO and the Japanese government. Organised under the jurisdiction of the Yemeni Ministry of Culture, its director is Mr Jâber Alî Ahmed, a distinguished lute player and teacher. A current project is preservation of Sana’a songs and their accompanying instruments (’oud, turbo, sahn and qanbous) and dissemination of knowledge about the way they are performed and sung. The 'Song of Sana'a' (Al-ghinâ Al-san'ânî), a traditional urban genre and one of the main kinds of Yemeni music, has been the subject of a recording project commenced ion 2006 and complete in 2009. This group of songs derived from various poetic traditions dating from the 14th century describes such social events as the samara, marriage evenings, and the magyal (the daily afternoon gathering of friends and colleagues to chew qat). As a whole it is recognised as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. An interesting article published through the British-Yemeni Society is to be found at www.al-bab.com/bys/articles/mokrani11.htm .

March 2017