By Layla Al-Barakani l
Long before written history took root, the people of Yemen passed down their identity through the power of spoken word. In sunlit courtyards and fire-lit gatherings, stories, poems, and songs traveled from elder to child, echoing across generations. This oral tradition—rich with metaphor, melody, and memory—remains one of Yemen’s most resilient and defining cultural pillars.
Even today, in a world of screens and soundbites, Yemen’s oral storytelling survives not only as entertainment, but as an archive of values, identity, and pride.
A Living Legacy Carried by Voice
Oral storytelling in Yemen is not just a performance—it is a participatory experience. At weddings, community events, and religious festivals, it is common for people of all ages to gather around a storyteller or poet, known locally as a ḥakawātī or shaʿir. These sessions are immersive, often including call-and-response elements, rhythmic chanting, and traditional instruments like the ʿūd and darbuka to deepen the experience.
“Every family has a storyteller,” says Dr. Nadia Al-Sakkaf, former Minister of Information and a scholar of Yemeni culture. “It’s not something reserved for artists or elites. Storytelling belongs to the people.” (Al Jazeera)
The Artistry of Language and Dialect
Yemen’s storytelling traditions are deeply rooted in its linguistic diversity. With a rich array of regional dialects—from the highlands of Ibb to the coastal speech of Hadhramaut—narrators craft their tales with vivid, region-specific imagery and wordplay. Common forms include the zār, a rhythmic chant traditionally used in spiritual healing, and the majlis recitation, where poetry is performed communally in gatherings.
This fusion of oral poetry and music is not just an aesthetic flourish—it is a bridge that connects listeners to emotions and ancestral memory. As noted by the British-Yemeni Society, oral traditions in Yemen often serve as both historical record and moral compass, reinforcing communal bonds and shared ethics.
Stories of Bravery, Identity, and Shared Memory
Much of Yemen’s oral heritage focuses on resilience—a theme that resonates deeply in a land often shaped by hardship. Stories of tribal warriors, legendary queens, and everyday heroes remind listeners of their collective strength. The famous tales of Queen Bilqis, widely believed to be the Queen of Sheba, are not only preserved in holy texts and historical accounts, but are also retold with regional variations in countless homes and villages across Yemen.
“Storytelling reinforces identity,” explains anthropologist Steven C. Caton, who studied Yemeni oral poetry extensively in his work Peaks of Yemen I Summon. “Through shared narratives, communities affirm who they are, where they come from, and what they value.”
Lessons Wrapped in Lyrics
Far from being relics of the past, these stories carry moral teachings that remain profoundly relevant. Concepts like karam (generosity), shajaʿa (bravery), and ṣidq (honesty) are embedded in tales passed down from grandparents to grandchildren. Whether humorous or solemn, each story contains a lesson—a compass to navigate life’s complexities.
These values are particularly vital in a society where much cultural transmission happens informally. Oral storytelling continues to serve as both education and emotional grounding for Yemen’s youth.
Tradition in Transition: New Voices, New Platforms
Despite the rise of modern entertainment, Yemen’s oral traditions are far from fading. In fact, they are evolving. Young Yemenis are bringing these stories to Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, translating traditional poems into short videos, digital calligraphy, and even animation. Initiatives like Bishtar Podcast and cultural collectives such as Yemen Culture (@yemen.culture on Instagram) are leading a quiet renaissance, making oral storytelling accessible to global audiences.
In refugee camps and diasporic communities, these tales now serve not only to connect generations, but also to preserve identity in exile. A grandmother’s tale in Adeni Arabic, shared over a WhatsApp voice note, may now reach a grandchild in Djibouti or London.
A Voice That Endures
As Yemen continues to grapple with conflict and transformation, its oral storytelling traditions offer more than nostalgia—they offer continuity. In every whispered folk tale, in every sung poem, is the beating heart of a people who refuse to be silenced.
Those who listen closely will hear more than words. They will hear a lineage of love, pride, resilience, and hope—spoken softly across centuries, and still ringing clear.
References
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Al Jazeera. “Yemen’s rich cultural heritage under threat,” March 2015.
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Caton, Steven C. Peaks of Yemen I Summon: Poetry as Cultural Practice in a North Yemeni Tribe. University of California Press, 1990.
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British-Yemeni Society. “The Role of Oral History in Yemeni Cultural Preservation”
