The Hall of Maat

Even though I haven’t had much time lately to practice my Arabic dance, I do think about it all the time, and I wanted to share some of my current favorite belly dance songs with you guys.

1. Aynur Doğan-Keca Kurdan

First of all, this song has not only become one of my favorite songs to belly dance to, but is now also one of my favorite songs in general. I discovered Aynur Doğan on the soundtrack to Fatih Akin’s film Crossing The Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul, with her song Ehmedo.

I was totally hooked on Aynur’s voice and soon discovered Kece Kurdan, which means Kurdish girl and is a seriously rockin’ Kurdish song, that not only empowers women, but energizes the heart!

Found this translation:

“eçê biner çerxa cîhan-girls ,stand up and noise abroad to the world
zor girêdane me re zor-tough things wait for you above,too
jin çû ne pêş pir dixwînin-because women are ahead and schooled now
êdî qelem ket şûna şûr-now pen took place of sword(it is an idiom meaning “education gets you higher than battling”)

keçê em dixwazin bi me re werin şêwrê-girls we want you to come to light with us
dilo em dixwazin bi me re werin cengê-dears, we want you to come to fight with us

hayê hayê em keçikê kurdan in-yes we are kurdish girls
şêrin em li cengê em li hêviya merdan in-we are lions we are alive we are men’s hope(we call lion to a really brave person)
hayê hayê em kulîlkê kurdan in-yes we are kurdish roses
derdê nezana berbendî serhildan in-we revolted against the trouble of the uneducated

serê xwe rake keça kurdan-hold your head up kurdish girl
dil û cegerêm heliyan-my heart and soul melt
ka niştiman ka azadî-where is land where is freedom
ka dayika me sêwiyan-where is the mother of us,of the orphaned?

keçê em dixwazin bi me re werin şêwrê
dilo em dixwazin bi me re werin cengê

hayê hayê em keçikê kurdan in
şêrin em li cengê em li hêviya merdan in
hayê hayê em kulîlkê kurdan in
derdê nezana berbendî serhildan in”

2. Haithham Al Hamwi-Elleila Sahetna

Very unexpectedly, I found that this song has quite the funky bass line, while keeping the music 100% authentic. Lots of fun this one!

3. Moğollar- Çığrık

Moğollar were pioneers of Turkish  rock. Their names means Mongols in Turkish. This song Çığrık is the perfect combination of  funky 60’s sound and world music.

4. Music of The Ghawazee-Banat Mazin Dance (Aisha Ali Field Recordings)

The Ghawazee are a famous tribe of Egyptian traveling dancers.The music is very tribal, and the dances are very earthy and beautiful

Some samples of Gahwazee dance below:

5. North Moroccan Ensemble-Asamaousemara
I downloaded this song from emusic on the top belly dance compilation, but also found the same song on the bottom compilation. Traditional music with female vocals. How can you go wrong?