Women’s Chants Echo Through Sharjah Heritage Days as Living Memory of the UAE
Sharjah-13.2.2026
Sharjah — In the gentle cadence of voices rising together, memory finds its rhythm. At the 23rd edition of Sharjah Heritage Days, women’s traditional chants — once carried across shorelines, courtyards and wedding tents — returned to the spotlight as a vibrant expression of Emirati identity.
During a cultural session hosted by Majlis Al-Asala’ (Authenticity Majlis) under the theme “Traditional Women’s Chants,” researchers and heritage bearers underscored the enduring role of these oral traditions in shaping collective memory. More than songs, they said, the chants are emotional archives — preserving joy, resilience and the quiet strength of women across generations.
The session, moderated by Aisha Obaid Ghabesh, Director of Events and Exhibitions at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, brought together heritage researcher Sultan Khalfan bin Ghafan from Umm Al Quwain, alongside heritage custodians Moza Saifan and Nada Boushabs from Sharjah.
Songs of the Sea
Opening the discussion, bin Ghafan revisited the chants of the pearl-diving era — melodies once performed by women awaiting the return of their husbands from months-long voyages at sea.
As dhows appeared on the horizon, women would gather along the shoreline, their voices rising in celebration. These chants expressed relief, gratitude and communal pride — a collective exhale marking the safe return of the sailors. The performance, he explained, was both emotional and social: a public affirmation of solidarity and hope.
Rhythm of Daily Life
For Moza Saifan, women’s chants were never confined to grand occasions. They accompanied everyday routines — housework, childcare, and seasonal gatherings — weaving melody into the rhythm of domestic life.
She recalled how women would gather during Eid celebrations in Sharjah’s historic Al Roula square, performing “Al Mureihana” or swing songs in playful synchrony between movement and voice. The chants transformed simple moments into shared celebration, blending innocence with collective joy.
Weddings, Welcome and Lullabies
Nada Boushabs highlighted wedding chants, where women would gather to praise the bride and groom, welcome guests and offer blessings for prosperity. The bridal procession, accompanied by rhythmic verses, became a tapestry of sound and symbolism — invoking goodwill and communal unity.
She also reflected on lullabies — soft, melodic verses sung to soothe infants. Beyond their calming effect, these chants nurtured emotional bonds between mother and child, reinforcing affection through touch and tone.
A Shared Arab Soundscape
In a gesture that reflected the festival’s wider cultural dialogue, members of the audience shared live samples of women’s chants from Oman and Tunisia, revealing striking parallels across the Arab world. Despite regional differences, the essence remained the same: voice as vessel of memory.
Speakers concluded that traditional women’s chants represent a rich intangible heritage — one that anchors social values and transmits cultural identity to younger generations.
In preserving these chants, organisers affirmed, the UAE safeguards more than melodies. It protects a living, breathing soundscape — one that continues to echo with the spirit of community, endurance and celebration.
At Sharjah Heritage Days, the voices of the past are not distant echoes. They are present, resonant and very much alive.