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Music of Yemen
Maqam-based art music, Turkish makam and aşık bards, Persian dastgah and radif, Arabic tarab, Sufi zikr, Kurdish dengbêj and Yemeni oud song.
Sung and searched in Arabic. The YouTube button above can run your search in that language.
A brief history
History
Archaeological excavations have confirmed the antiquity of music in Yemen, demonstrating that it is a unique art form independent of influences from the ancient Near East. Yemeni music is deeply rooted in the region, widely disseminated, and influential among various cultures—even reaching the countries of the Far Maghreb. Archaeological surveys and excavations—ranging from petroglyphs in regions such as Saada, Tihama, Sanaa (Bayen Jadrain), Haz, Al-Jawf, Marib, and Najran—to artefacts such as coins, statues, and inscriptions—have revealed that music in ancient Yemeni civilisations originated when early Yemenis employed a diverse array of musical instruments. For example, a French mission in the Saada region uncovered a rock drawing depicting the kinara instrument, dating back to prehistoric times. In the Al-Jawf region, columns at the Arn Yedda Temple feature scenes of musical instruments accompanied by dancers, representing wind instruments like the trumpet and the khushkhishah—a sound-producing instrument—with this artwork dated to the 9th–8th century BC.
Popular music
Early modern history
When Yemen became part of the Ottoman Empire, it retained strong ties to its musical heritage—particularly the period of the Rasulid dynasty (1229–1453). This era is closely associated with the emergence of the Humini muwashshah in Yemen, a form that became integral to Sanaa's singing tradition. The earliest Humini muwashshah still performed in Sanaa is attributed to the poet Ahmed bin Fleita (d. 1331), whose renown spread during the reign of a struggling Rasulid king. According to Dr. Muhammad Abdo Ghanem, the muwashshah form was introduced to Yemen by the Ayyubids (1173–1229). Once in Yemen, however, it assumed a distinct local character—a blend of colloquial and classical elements—and became the poetic foundation of both the Rasulid court's performances and Sufi lodge chants.
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Radio from Yemen
Music only, no news or talk. Stations that play the local tradition come first, then the most listened. They play in the corner of the page.
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