This type of singing was prevalent in the Tamimoun region and its environs since ancient times and was known before Islam as “Aznoun,” later evolving into the current name “Ahlil Guarara” [Algerian lyrical heritage threatened with oblivion]. Some believe that this name is derived from the people of the night, given that this singing is performed at night, while others associate it with the crescent moon. There are also claims that the word came from the praise of God and the phrase “There is no god but God.” Ahleil is a significant poetry collection for the southern people of Algeria. It is a type of singing inherited from the Algerian desert. The lyrics of Ahleil often address the lives of the Companions and the righteous saints, which has led some specialists to consider it a Sufi song inspired by the Tijani and Qadiriyya orders that spread in Algeria and the Maghreb region.
The performance:
Women and men participate in the performance of Ahleil, standing and chanting the same words accompanied by applause that matches the melodies supporting their body movements. It is performed by teams, usually consisting of seven singers, who perform in public places during the night at religious occasions, weddings, or when visiting the shrines of the righteous saints. One researcher believes there are two types of this art: the first is called Taqrabet, performed sitting with musical instruments, especially during religious occasions, while the second is Ahleil, performed standing with the use of the flute and drum.
Saudi poet and folklore researcher Muhammad Aziz Al-Arfaj believes that the method of chanting and applauding in Ahleil of Guarara is similar to the Najd ardhah in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula, particularly the Hijazi art of Qilta that moved to Najd. He also notes similarities with other methods, such as forming a circle with participants and having a person in the middle improvising poems, similar to practices in the Asir region of southwestern Arabia and north of Tihama.
Instruments and Lyrics:
Several instruments are used in Ahleil performances, including Zamzad, Tabla, and Tamja. The sung poems often include Sufi and religious themes but also cover worldly topics such as love, war, fame, dignity, and kindness. Among the most famous songs is “The Greatest Prophet.”
Muhammad Aziz Al-Arfaj mentions that the poetic weight prevalent in the improvisation of Ahleil Qurara poems, including this famous poem, aligns with the reflective sea of eloquent poetry, increasing its activation. The Najd region has known this weight since ancient times through the renowned Najdi poet Humaidan al-Shuwaier, who is considered the first to use this weight in Najdi folk poetry. The repeated rhyme is known only to the residents of southern Yemen, who refer to it as al-Shawani or al-Shabwani.
Among the World Heritage Monuments:
Ahleil was chosen as the first Algerian heritage to be classified globally by UNESCO on the List of Intangible Oral Heritage. It is a collective singing and dancing style that ranges from chanting to oral poetry and pure music, emanating from the golden throats of the Sahrawis and accompanied by simple musical instruments.
