Still used among tribesThe beauty of the Zamil [Archives:2004/793/Culture]

Hassan Al-Zaidi
Since the 1960s, Zamil (folk chants) is considered as one of the means for expressing one's attitude for many tribesmen in Yemen. The Yemeni tribes have great interest in folk chants to express themselves or to describe a particular attitude.
The Zamil, which is a means of expression among societies across Yemen, is composed of poetical stanzas to be delivered by a performer after it has been agreed by his followers. He can be authorized to do so on behalf of his tribe.
The Zamil does not exceed four stanzas in length, as it is common among different Yemeni tribes.
The Zamil varies according to the occasions on which it is delivered. We sometimes find that it is performed in the form of addressing a message and receiving its reply between two tribes.
On other occasions, Zamil may contain poetical stanzas to commend a certain tribe or to highlight its qualities and attributes. Great occasions saw Zamil delivered by famed Sheikhs and prominent tribesmen. The stance of the tribe towards a certain issue is reflected in the words and phrases contained in the Zamil.
Looking back to the stances of Yemeni tribes, in the conflicts between republicans and royalists, we found that tribes supporting the royalists expressed their attitude through the following popular Zamil:
We will never be republicans even if we died out,
Even though yesterday turns into today and sun rises from Aden,
And even if the earth inflames and the sky throws bullets.
Zamil is chanted when members of the tribe arrange themselves in two rows and then perform the Zamil together, after the poet delivers the stanzas and they listen to him. They keep chanting till their arrival. When members of the other tribe receive them, they stop chanting to listen to the reply.
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