History of Music in Gaza

Gaza Strip music is one of many regional sub-genres of Arabic music. While it shares much in common with Arabic music, both structurally and instrumentally, there are musical ways and subject matter that are characteristically Palestinian.

source of picture: www.cnn.com

Early in the twentieth century, most Palestinians lived in rural areas, either as farmers or as nomads. Farmers (fellahin) sang a variety of work songs, while fishing, shepherding, harvesting and making olive oil. Touring storytellers and artists known as zajaleen were also common, known for their epic tales. Weddings were home to unique music, especially the dabke, a difficult dance performed by linked orchestra of dancers. Popular songs were in widely-varying forms, especially Meyjana and Dalauna.

After the creation of Israel in 1948, most Gaza fled to, or was forced into refugee camps. The centers for Palestinian music were in the Israeli towns of Nazareth and Haifa, where performers composed in the classical styles of Cairo and Damascus. The shared Palestinian identity first arose during this period, and a new wave of performers emerged with distinctively Palestinian themes, relating to the dreams of statehood.

The Israeli government utilized considerable control over Palestinian music recordings, and many of the most popular cassettes were distributed through the black market. Late in the 1970s, a new wave of popular Palestinian stars emerged, including Sabreen and Al Ashiqeen. After the 1987 Intifada, a more hard-edged group of performers and songwriters emerged, led by El Funoun, a songwriter.

In the 1990s, Palestinian cultural expression began to stabilize. Wedding bands, having long since vanished during the fighting, reappeared and played popular Egyptian and Lebanese songs. Tania Nasser soon emerged as a major star, and became well-known for her support of feminism among Palestinian women.

Beginning in the late 1990s, Palestinian youth forged a new Palestinian musical sub-genre—Palestinian rap or hip hop, which blends Arabic melodies and Western beats, with lyrics in Arabic, English, and even Hebrew. Young Palestinian musicians tailored the style to express their own grievances.