SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A NASHEED

The most formal yet widely adored form of Islamic musical poetry in Yemen — often, if not always, religious in content — is the Yemeni nasheed.

With a singer with a high-pitched voice who leads a chorus in call and response compositions, going back and forth between demonstrating vocal artistry and eliciting participation by the group, the Yemeni nasheed (also sometimes written as “nashad”) plays an important role in Yemeni society by providing the musical soundtrack for Yemeni life events like weddings and funerals.  Nasheed music (the term that refers both to the form and the performer) seems to be adapting as Yemenis become more connected to global music, growing into modern sounds while still retaining its traditional meaning. (Let’s see one in this video.)