https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Marfa_musicMarfa music - Revision history2026-07-31T05:09:25ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Marfa_music&diff=233993&oldid=prev->Nenetarun at 14:14, 10 May 20212021-05-10T14:14:58Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}<br />
The '''Marfa''' is a form of celebratory rhythmic music and dance from [[Hyderabad]], India, among the [[Hyderabadi Muslims]], adapted from Afro-Arab music of [[Hadhramawt]] in [[Yemen]].<ref name="TheHindu1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article2216021.ece# |title='Marfa' band of the Siddis 'losing' its beat |work=The Hindu |date=10 July 2011 |accessdate=16 August 2011 |location=Hyderabad, India}}</ref> It is played at a high tempo using instruments such as [[Marfa (instrument)|marfa]], ''[[daf]]f'', ''[[dhol]]'', ''[[percussion instrument|sticks]]'',<ref name="An_African_Indian_community_in_Hyderabad">{{Cite book|title=An African Indian community in Hyderabad: Siddi identity, its maintenance and Change |author=Ababu Minda Yimene |pages=209–211 |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=3-86537-206-6 |year=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DigPvwHTqJ4C&q=marfa+hyderabad+history&pg=PA210}}</ref> steel pots and wooden strips called ''thapi''.{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<ref name="TheHindu3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/23/stories/2008102358610200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026124808/http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/23/stories/2008102358610200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 October 2008 |title=It's "teen maar" for marriages, festivals |date=23 October 2008 |accessdate=16 August 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Hyderabad, India}}</ref> The [[chorus effect]]s and vocal [[Metre (music)|meter]] are set according to beats.<ref name="TheHindu1"/><ref name="An_African_Indian_community_in_Hyderabad"/><br />
<br />
It was introduced during 18th century in [[Hyderabad State]] by the East African [[Siddi|Siddi community]], who used to serve as [[cavalry]] guards in [[Asaf Jahi]] [[Nizams]] irregular army. Asaf Jahi Nizams patronized ''marfa'' music and it was performed during official celebrations and ceremonies as they also claimed Arab ancestry from the first Caliph [[Abu Bakr Siddique]] through the Bayafandi Clan of [[Asir]] province in [[Arabia]]. It became popular in [[India]], particularly in [[Hyderabad state]]. It was brought there by the diaspora of [[Siddi]]s and [[Hadhrami people|Hadhramis]].<ref name="TheHindu1"/><ref name="An_African_Indian_community_in_Hyderabad"/><br />
<br />
The associated marfa dance is typically performed with [[janbiya]] daggers and/or [[Talwar|talwars]] (swords) and latts{{Which lang|date=April 2021}} (canes), and is likely to have been derived from the ''Bar'a'' ({{lang-ar|برع}}) dance of Yemen.<br />
<br />
==Origin==<br />
''Marfa'' is a [[Yemeni Arabic]] word used for the [[kettledrum]].<ref name="first Indian recordings">{{cite book|title=The Gramaphone Company's first Indian recordings, 1899-1908 |author=Michael S. Kinnear |page=203 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=1994 |isbn=81-7154-728-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3DjL3WcQ2kEC&q=Hyderabad+Tasha+Marfa&pg=PA203}}</ref> Due to the [[Hadhrami people|Hadhrami]] people's influence on the culture of the [[Ethiopia]]n [[Siddi]]s, the word ''marfa'' became a symbol of the music played using the kettledrum.<ref>[http://www.al-bab.com/bys/articles/bakewell95.htm British-Yemeni Society: Traditional music in the Yemen<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716105509/http://www.al-bab.com/bys/articles/bakewell95.htm |date=2011-07-16 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.isdmusic.com/yemen-music.htm Yemen Music | Enjoy The Poetry In Yemeni Music<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Kettledrums are replaced with [[Handi]] kettledrums<ref name="TheHindu3"/> in the [[Siddi]] form of ''marfa'' music played in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[India]].<ref name="Census_of_India_1981">{{cite book|title=Census of India : Andhra Pradesh |year=1981 |page=82 | publisher=India. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K7MUAQAAMAAJ&q=hyderabad++arab+marfa+music}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Forms==<br />
''Marfa'' music is created from three different musical rhythmic beats also called ''teen maar taal''.{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<ref name="An_African_Indian_community_in_Hyderabad"/> <br />
A typical dance involves jiggling with [[sword]]s and [[wikt:stick|sticks]] based on the music's tempo and rhythm.<ref>[http://www.natelangana.com/index.php Welcome to the Telangana<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330201441/http://www.natelangana.com/index.php |date=2012-03-30 }}</ref> The music is performed only by men, whereas dances and jiggling are common among both men and women.<ref name="TheHindu1"/><ref name="An_African_Indian_community_in_Hyderabad"/><br />
Popular marfa rhythms include:<br />
* ''sewari''{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<br />
* ''bamb sheklah''{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<br />
* ''ya abu bakar-ya abu salah''{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<br />
* ''salaam almukallah''{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<br />
* ''jumbali zimbali''{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<br />
* ''benazeer benazeer''{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<br />
* ''ahlan wasahlan''{{Which lang|date=April 2021}}<br />
<br />
==Popularity==<br />
Playing ''marfa'' has become popular in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]] and it is considered a traditional sign of welcome.<ref name="An_African_Indian_community_in_Hyderabad"/><ref name=thehindu_marfa>{{cite news |title=US Consul General floored by Arabi daf| url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/01/stories/2010120154970600.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119155958/http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/01/stories/2010120154970600.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=19 January 2011| date=1 December 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]| accessdate=3 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="TheHindu2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/29/stories/2007032922240400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017113326/http://hindu.com/2007/03/29/stories/2007032922240400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2007 |title=Spiritual leader of Dawoodi Bohras in city |date=29 March 2009 |accessdate=16 August 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Hyderabad, India}}</ref><ref name="TOI">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/29/stories/2007032922240400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017113326/http://hindu.com/2007/03/29/stories/2007032922240400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2007 |title=Sania-Shoaib-enters-Mirza-residence-hand-in-hand |date=13 April 2010 |accessdate=16 August 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Hyderabad, India}}</ref> Since 1951, it is performed officially by the [[government of India]] as part of the annual celebration on the occasions of [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day]] and [[Republic Day (India)|Republic Day]] at [[Red Fort]], [[New Delhi]], [[India]].<ref name="An_African_Indian_community_in_Hyderabad"/> It is also played at [[Hyderabadi Muslims|Hyderabadi Muslim]] weddings, with great fervour.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/from-the-era-of-the-nizams-arabi-marfa-continues-to-be-a-hit-even-now/article4032031.ece|title=From the era of the Nizams 'Arabi marfa' continues to be a hit even now|date=2012-10-26|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-03-19}}</ref><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*[[Marfa (instrument)]]<br />
*[[Hyderabadi Muslim]]<br />
*[[Chaush]]<br />
<br />
==External Links==<br />
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnIM2_wxkX0&list=PL-Kb1WNpcR0BMmu89Xwa_eMGUqVvz3iGJ&index=50&ab_channel=MohammedHamed Old Original marfa in Hyderabad India]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Culture of Hyderabad, India]]<br />
[[Category:Arabic music]]<br />
[[Category:Classical and art music traditions]]<br />
[[Category:Indian music]]<br />
[[Category:Indian styles of music]]</div>->Nenetarun