Marfa (music)

Marfa is a form of celebratory rhythmic music and dance among the Hyderabadi Muslims in the Deccan region adapted from Afro-Arab music of Hadhramawt in Yemen. It is played at a high tempo using

Origin#

Marfa is a Yemeni Arabic word used for the kettledrum. Due to the Hadhrami people’s influence on the culture of the Ethiopian Siddis, the word marfa became a symbol of the music played using the kettledrum. Kettledrums are replaced with Handi kettledrums

Forms#

Marfa music is created from three different musical rhythmic beats also called teen maar taal. The music is performed only by men, whereas dances and jiggling are common among both men and women. Popular marfa rhythms include: * sewari * bamb sheklah * ya abu bakar-ya abu salah * salaam almukallah * jumbali zimbali * benazeer benazeer * ahlan wasahlan

Popularity#

Playing marfa has become popular in Hyderabad and it is considered a traditional sign of welcome. Since 1951, it is performed officially by the government of India as part of the annual celebration on the occasions of Independence Day and Republic Day at Red Fort, New Delhi, India.

External links#

Old Original marfa in Hyderabad India

Genre family: Arabic music, Indian styles of music
Region: India