A-WA: A feminist Yemeni-Israeli band
For this post, I present links to two music videos from the Israeli band A-WA, made up of three sisters of Yemeni Jewish descent who sing in Arabic in a style blending traditional Yemeni music and electronic music. From the songs of theirs that I have listened to, they cover both gender issues and issues related to the lives of refugees. The two music videos related to gender are here and here (they both have subtitles in English that can be turned on).
These two videos are interesting because they both show women escaping or outwitting domineering or unfaithful men. However, when I watch them, one thing strikes me. The videos seem to be set in Arab settings, and could be taken as portraying the misogyny of Arab men. However, to what extent is this portrayal of misogyny based on the singers’ own experiences of the misogyny of Arab men or people’s experiences they have heard of? As far as I am aware, the singers were born and raised in Israel. Are the videos, then, an accurate portrayal of Yemeni men, or are they based solely on stereotypes of Arab men that circulate in Western (and maybe Israeli) society? These questions could lead to an interesting discussion in an Arabic class.
Additionally, the video would be nice to use in an Arabic class both to expose students to the Yemeni dialect of Arabic and as a glimpse into the culture of Arab Jews, a group often neglected in presentations of Arab culture (which often focus mainly on Muslims, and sometimes on Christians).
(For those interested in watching an A-WA video related to the experiences of Arab-Jewish refugees in Israel, that song is here)
Hi Jacob,
Thanks for sharing these. I watched them both. Very interesting video clips. They remind me of Turkish girls’ bands that emerged after Spice Girls and others. I like the second one better “Habib Galbi,” the first one is more implicit, the lyrics imply refugee/migrant status but the video clip has nothing to do with it. The customs at the beginning also reminded me the customs in Handmaid’s tale – might be a reference to the show- who knows?
The second one is definitely more straightforward. I like the questions you raised- definitely would make a good classroom discussion.
One last thing-I like how the three boys dancing in the 2nd Habib video are wearing a fes/fez but not really – it’s sort of between a cap and a fez indicating the blend of traditional and modern – as in the music this band makes…I think the videos have more symbols than I could see…
Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you liked the songs! I’m not sure about the Handmaid’s Tale connection, but a man going around with a whip is certainly unpleasant in any event haha.
I really like the cap/fez outfit combination, and I think you’re right that the mixing of modern/Western and traditional is present throughout their work.
The video with the clearest reference to refugee/immigrant life is the one I linked to in the last line of my post. It discusses the hardships undergone by Yemeni Jews who moved to Israel in the early 20th century seeking a better life.
Yes, the whip was very very disturbing…
I agree, there’s a lot in these songs that can be explored. In addition to some of themes you already mentioned, the concepts of arranged marriages and relationships with significant age differences (an old shoe) could be discussed. I felt the use of the references to/images of shoes in the second video may have deeper symbolism. I’m not sure what, but it could be interesting to discuss.
I found the cross-cultural nods interesting, as well. Could it be related to the musical genre, a sub culture, or a sign of the times and the culture, at large?
The music videos by A-WA showcase powerful themes of gender and resilience, featuring women navigating oppressive relationships. Their portrayal raises questions about the representation of Arab men and the singers’ experiences in Israel.
Thank you so much!!