Mezwed

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mezwed is a genre of popular traditional music based on oriental rhythms, believed by Tunisians to be completely different from Egyptian Saahbi music. It incorporates traditional Tunisian drums called Darbouka and a kind of bagpipe called a Zokra with a bag made from ewe's leather. Usually it is sung in a local (Tunisian) dialect of Arabic. Originally the music of the countryside and the working classes; it is often played at weddings and parties. It has its own particular dance in which people enter a trance-like state.

The themes of Mezwed are social, typically: immigration, racism, family and love. It is not a kind of music heard everywhere because some people find it "vulgar" and "cheap" even though it's the most wide-spread style of Tunisian music.

Nowadays new fusions of Mezwed, with Hip-Hop and Rap are becoming popular. The most popular singers are Fatma Boussaha, Samir Lousif and Hedi Habbouba.

[edit] Artists

• Belgacem Bouguenna
• Cheikh El Afrit
• Fathi Weld Fajra
• Fatma Boussaha
• Hedi Habbouba
• Ouled Jouini
• Hedi Jouini

[edit] External links

• (French) Exposé du Musée des civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée
• (French) Exposé du Musée virtuel du Canada