cathy

Dear A'isha,

The question "Are finger cymbals used in Raks Sharki?" can quickly lead to a whole range of related topics.

In addition to her questions directly pertaining to finger cymbals as used in Raks Sharki, I was also attempting to address questions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 from Jane's post #11 on this thread yesterday, to the best of my humble abilities.

Thanks, Cathy

cathy

Hi Maylynn,

I would LOVE to see Zambra Mora but so far have not had the chance.

I do not know much more about the origins and history of Roma vs. Sinti--I think there may be other tribes as well. I have read Bury Me Standing but not in awhile and as I recall it didn't go so much into the historical origins but more into the 20th century (horrific!!!!) plight of these peoples. To me the statelessness, poverty, and lack of cohesive voice is really shocking and horrible to contemplate. I think I read that in parts of Eastern Europe even today there is unemployment of 80% among these peoples, their children cannot attend school, etc.

If I find another source I will try to remember to let you know.

Cathy

Aisha Azar

Dear Cathy,
I was not criticizing, I was saying to the group at large that it is easy to veer far from the subject at hand, and I think that often leads to more confusion. I apologize if you felt that I was being critical of your post, which I was not. ALL of us need to be clear on what we are discussing. I think what often happens is we are not clear enough about what is being discussed, so that pretty soon, belly dance or raqs sharghi if you prefer, gets all lumped in with everything else and pretty soon we have a mishmosh that is harder and harder to get clear on. I know I can get right sucked into side issues that veer so far away from the original issue that it disappears. I was cautioning against that in a general way, to myself as well as everyone else.
Regards,
A'isha

Monica

I recommend the documentary "The Romany Trail Part 1: Gypsy Music Into Africa". There is an interview with the Maazin family patriarch, Joseph Maazin, where he relates the oral history of his people. He states that they came from Kurdistan to Egypt many years ago, and are properly called Nawar. It is one small reference, but I consider it an original source.

I recommend this documentary (parts one and two, the latter of which focuses on Europe) heartily, but always with a disclaimer. It is invaluable for original video footage, including Banaat Mazin dancing, some other ghawazee women performing in public, interviews with Khariyya Maazin about her life, a zaar, and much more), but the narration leaves a lot to be desired and is very sensationalist. It takes a tone of 'look at the wild natives...we are about to see something no westerner has ever seen before'. It is patronizing and often untrue, and some of the claims are just not believable (ie, Metkal Kenawi was a French porn star!?). But again, the footage as a direct source is unrivaled.