Celebrating traditional Arab musical instrument.

Fujairah: The Fujairah Cultural and Media Authority (FCMA) is set to host an event to celebrate a traditional musical instrument favoured by poet-singers throughout the Arab world early next month.

Organisers say the traditional style of the rababah has suffered from neglect and has become less popular with younger people due to modern technology.

In response, the three-day event has been arranged and will be dedicated to highlighting the importance of the instrument through education and entertainment.

Mohammad Saeed Al Danhani, Deputy Chairman of the FCMA, said he hoped the event would restore the rababah to its rightful place at the heart of traditional Arab music.

He said: "This instrument has coexisted with the Arab man for so many generations but has recently been marginalised in cultural circles.

"So, we hope this event will help to put a spot light on this fine tradition and become a reference point to its regeneration."

Musicians from at least 12 Arab countries will play pan-Arab folklore music mixing a variety of traditions.

The performers will include two Libyan female artists. The North African country is unique in having women as the main carriers of this art form.

The event will take place at the Traditional Village next to Fujairah Fort from January 8.

Did you know?

Rababah

The rabab, or rababah in Arabic, is a string instrument played with a bow with a low range but plays long, harmonically rich notes.

There are many variants of the instrument which can have one, two or three strings and is thought to have originated in Arabia or Persia before spreading as far as Asia and Europe.

Nomadic Bedouins have used the instruments for centuries mainly by poet-singers reciting tales of love and war.

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