Hear the Revival of Ancient UAE Sea Chants Originally Sung on Pearling Vessels in Sharjah
In a captivating display of cultural heritage, traditional sea chants known as nahma were performed at a recent event in Dubai. These ancient melodies, which have been passed down through the generations, were once a common feature on pearl diving ships that sailed out of the Arabian Gulf.
Ali Khamees, a researcher at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, described the nahma as a "living diary of the sea." Khamees, a renowned scholar and author, is known for his work on the history of pearl diving, particularly in the Arabian Gulf region.
The nahma were not the domain of professional musicians, but rather a cultural legacy left by sailors and divers. On larger ships, there could be more than one Naham, each with a distinctive voice.
The performance was not a passive experience, but an interactive one that pulled everyone into the rhythm. Every performance is also an act of preservation, a window into a nearly vanished world for many in the audience.
Each task on board had its own chant, according to Emirati artist and composer Ibrahim Jumaa. The Naham, the ship's singer, was as important as any sailor. In fact, the Naham received a share and a half of the profits from the voyage, more than a regular crew member.
One of the most poignant hymns performed was Al Taqseera, sung during the act of throwing Al Sinn (an iron weight) into the water to stabilise the ship. The response to Al Taqseera was "Aaaah," which echoed across the waves.
The traditional sea chants contained expressions of courage, exhaustion, longing for home, and sometimes grief. They remind modern audiences of the resilience of the people who sailed the Arabian Gulf.
In a lighter vein, Samar songs were more playful, telling stories and jokes to keep the crew awake during long evenings. The performance was a reminder of how music helped the ancestors of the Emiratis through tough sea journeys.
For Emiratis leading the session, the performance was a reminder of their cultural heritage and a call to preserve it for future generations. As the echoes of the nahma faded, the audience was left with a profound appreciation for this living diary of the sea.
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