Algeria: Ahleel… Amazigh heritage in the heart of the desert

This type of singing has been widespread in the Timimoun region and its environs since ancient times and was known before Islam as “Aznoun,” and later evolved into the current name “Ahlil Jurara.” [Algerian lyrical heritage threatened with oblivion]. Some believe that this name is derived from the people of the night, given that this singing takes place at night, while others link it to the crescent moon. There are also claims that the word came from praise be to God and from the phrase “There is no god but God.” Ahleel is an important poetry collection for the people of southern Algeria. It is a type of singing inherited from the Algerian desert. Ahleel’s lyrics often deal with the lives of the Companions and righteous saints, which has led some specialists to consider it a Sufi song inspired by the Tijaniya and Qadiriyya orders that spread in Algeria and the Maghreb region.

Performance:

Women and men participate in performing “Ahleel,” as they stand and repeat the same words, accompanied by applause that matches the melodies supporting their body movements. It is performed by groups usually consisting of seven singers, who perform in public places during the night on religious occasions, weddings, or when visiting the shrines of righteous saints. One researcher believes that there are two types of this art: the first is called Taqarubat, which is performed sitting on musical instruments, especially on religious occasions, and the second is Al-Ahlyal, which is performed standing while using a flute and drum.

The poet and researcher in Saudi folklore, Muhammad Aziz Al-Arfaj, believes that the style of chanting and clapping in Ahleel Gurara is similar to the Najdi Ardha style in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula, especially the Hejazi art of Qalta, which was transferred to Najd. He also notes similarities with other methods, such as forming a circle with participants and having someone in the middle improvise poems, similar to practices in the Asir region in southwestern Arabia and northern Tihama.

Instruments and lyrics:

Many instruments are used in halal performances, including the zamzud, tabla, and tamja. Lyrics often include mystical and religious themes but also cover worldly themes such as love, war, fame, dignity and kindness. One of the most famous songs is “The Greatest Prophet.”

Muhammad Aziz Al-Arfaj notes that the poetic heaviness prevailing in the improvisation of Ahleel Qarara’s poems, including this famous poem, is in harmony with the reflective sea of ​​eloquent poetry, which increases its activation. The Najd region has known this meter since ancient times through the famous Najdi poet Hamidan Al-Shuwaier, who is considered the first to use this meter in Najdi folk poetry. The repeated rhyme is known only to the residents of southern Yemen, who call it Al-Shawani or Al-Shabwani.

Among the world heritage monuments:

Ahleel was chosen as the first Algerian heritage to be classified globally by UNESCO on the list of intangible oral heritage. It is a group singing and dancing style that ranges from chanting to oral poetry and pure music, emanating from the golden throats of the Sahrawis and accompanied by simple musical instruments.