Pioneers in the Yemeni National Song [Archives:2000/31/Culture]
July 31 2000
National Song
Saleh Abdulbaki
Yemen Times
In our country and, particularly during the oppressive British colonization, national songs played a powerful role in the then Southern part of Yemen during the second half of the past century. Yemenis there were struggling vigorously to attain independence. National songs were considered to be the fuel that ignited the masses to go on their struggle. Actually they were the catalysts behind many uprisings against the colonization. Besides, they created an atmosphere, which was the breeding ground for the growth of the National Movement. This movement led, in course of time, to the Revolution of 14th, October 1963 under the leadership of the National Liberation Front which erupted from Radfan mountains.
Mr. Mohammed Murshed Naji and Abdullah Hadi Subait are considered pioneers of national songs. Their songs still preserve the same popularity and attractiveness.
Another factor that had made the national songs spread was the political parties which appeared early in the 1950s for the first time, following more than one hundred years of British rule. The Imam’s reign in the then Northern part of Yemen and the state of stagnancy in the Arab world had facilitated continued British control over one time Aden Colony and the Eastern and Western Aden Protectorates.
The first liberation movement was established in the fifties under the slogan of the “Unity of South Arabia”. It was formed of small independent groups in different sultanates, sheikdoms and emirates with the intention to resist the separation of the southern part from the northern part that was imposed by the colonizers. The movement tried to attract the attention of youths and intellectuals. It also tried to spread and produce some national songs written by the poet Abdulah Hadi Subait. His first poem was “Banignah” and was sung by the great singer Mohammed Murshed Naji. This song was produced following the plantation of cotton and harvest season in some governorates of the then Southern part of Yemen. The song was sounding success for the exquisite and wonderful images and figures of speech that it contained.
Al-Murshidi’s first song was “Ya dhalem laish al-dulm da kuloh” meaning “Oh tyrant, why all this suppression”. It is worth mentioning that this song was already composed and sung by the late artist Iskander Thabet. Al-Murshdi used to sing many lyrics of Subait. He used to sing these songs on the occasion of nuptial ceremonies where invitees used to gather in a temporary shelter called “Makhdara”.
Another national song was written by the poet Mohammed Saeed Jarada and titled “Ibn Al-Janoob” meaning “son of the South” which was sung by Al-Murshidi also. In this way Al-Subait was the first writer and composer of national poems. He was also the first to call for the armed struggle against the colonizers in 1957. He made this pretty clear in his poem “ya shaki al-selah, shoof al-fager laah – Hut be yadak ala almadfa, zaman al-dhol raah” meaning “Oh (you) who is bristling with arms, look at the dawn coming – firmly hold your hand on the cannon, gone is the era of suppression”. He sang this song during the festivals of the Algerian revolution in Daar Sa’ad area of the then Lahj Sultanate. Through this song, Bin Hadi signaled a change his attitude from a peaceful negotiator with the colonizers to an armed liberator to achieve independence.
In the mid fifties, liberation movement continued under the slogan of “South Arabia” to resist separation imposed by the colonizers on the Yemeni homeland. Then some national and regional congregations joined forces with different liberation movements. Strikes and boycotts used to be organized at the grassroots level of the Labor Movement in different important institutions, which gained in popularity and support of the people who started revolting against colonization. In the last quarter of the past century, some national movements emerged. Nationalism reached its peak during the leadership of Jamal Abdulnasser in which Arab lands witnessed important national struggle against colonization and its lackeys. As a correlative result the instigative struggle was reinforced at both regional and national level.
Bin Hadi and Al-Murshidi were actually a wonderful duet: the former composed and produced lyrics poems while the latter put them to marvelous strains and melody.
Therefore, Bin Hadi Subait is considered to be the father of national song in the then Southern parts of Yemen. He was born in Al-Hutah the capital of Lahj in 1921 and brought up there. He received his primary study in Al-Muhsinah school. Following his preparatory study, the highest level of study at the time, he was appointed a teacher in the same school. During his teaching he never stopped to pursue his quest for knowledge and culture which distinguished him from other educated figures of his age. Then he was given the post of deputy minister at the Culture department. He held different positions during the Lahji authority. His last post was deputy minister of the Department of Agriculture, which was a microcosm ministry at the time. As a result of his political activities, he was chased and wanted by the colonial authorities. Therefore, he fled to the Northern Yemen and then to Cairo where he continued instigating the struggle against the British colonization.
Bin Hadi Subait returned after 15 years after Al-Kumandan’s death. He came to revive the literary pursuits that had suffered a state of stagnancy after Al-Kumandan. He was famous for his lyrical poetry and published a book containing all his poems titled “al dmo’o al-daahikah” meaning “Laughing Tears”. He devoted his life to art and literary works. He had many talents at a time; he was a sensitive, imaginative poet, talented musician and excellent composer. He was actually an institution by himself. One of his songs titled “Ishriki Ya shamss min ardh al-uroobah” achieved the first prize in the competition organized by the Arab League. He has published other poetical works and literary works as well.
In a nutshell, the national songs in the then Southern part of Yemen were associated with Bin Hadi who was the brain behind all their vitality and vigor. It is only logical that the Ministry of Culture gave this creative literary figure due attention and care and gave him support in his miserable health and financial condition. His commitment and devotion marked by his extensive literary works need to be appreciated by our officials concerned. I hope that this will produce an echo in their ears and attract their attention to the need to review their policies towards many literary figures who have been totally ignored.
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