With its origins as a celebration of victory on the field of battle, Al Azi poetry has been passed down from father to son for hundreds of years. Al Azi consists of rhymed verses in the style of traditional Arabic poetry, with sayings and proverbs sometimes interspersed into the poem.
Performed by a group of men, Al Azi is characterised by the powerful voices of both the poet and a chorus that ‘answers’ him. The chorus members hold mock rifles and stand in rows behind the poet, who holds a mock sword. The call-and-response performance conveys a sense of unity and solidarity, while the symbolic weapons symbolise courage.
Al Azi was performed regularly by desert communities across the United Arab Emirates until the mid-20th century, when the practice became less widespread as people began moving to cities in large numbers.
With support from government authorities and growing Emirati interest in preserving national heritage, Al Azi has since been revived, and today is a treasured aspect of Emirati heritage and culture. It is regularly performed at weddings, national and religious holidays, and other special events and ceremonies.
Al Azi was inscribed in 2017 on the UNESCO 'List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding'.
