Al 'azi, elegy, processional march and poetry

UNESCO: Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - 2012
URL: www.unesco.org/...
Description: Al 'azi is a genre of sung poetry performed in the Sultanate of Oman. It takes the form of a poetry contest punctuated by sword and step movements and poetic exchanges between a singer poet and a choir. The poet, who recites improvised and memorized poems in Arabic, guides the other participants. They must pay attention to his movements and recitation, and respond with appropriate replies and movements. The poems express pride of belonging and eulogize the tribe, important people or historical moments.
Country(ies): Oman
© 2009 Oman Ministry of Information
Duration: 00:06:10 - Support: DVD (0085000007)