Old man and boy recite from the Qur'an (Surat an-Naba; Surat al-A'ala)

Audio file

Date recorded: September 1, 1967 to September 30, 1967
Contributor(s): Performer: Unidentified man; Performer: Unidentified boy; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: prayer, recitation
Culture: Moroccan
Instruments: voice
Setting: A wedding, indoors
Location: Aguelmouss, Ouarzazate, Souss-Massa-Drâa, Morocco
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T2089
Track Number: 8
Archive ID: T2089R08
Note: The old man is reciting Surat an-Naba (Chapter of the Announcement), which is the 78th Surah (Chapter) of the Qur’an, Ayat (Verses) 1-9 and 13-16: “Concerning what are they disputing? / Concerning the Great News/ About which they cannot agree. / Nay but they will come to know! / Nay again but they will come to know! / Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse / And the mountains as bulwarks? / And have We not created you in pairs? / And have We not sent down from the clouds water in abundance / Thereby to produce grain and plant / And gardens of luxurious growth?” The boy (12 years old) is reciting Surat al-A’ala (Chapter of the Most High) the 56th Surah of the Qu’ran Ayat 1-5: “Glorify the name of your Lord the Most High / Who createth then disposeth / Who measureth then guideth / Who bringeth forth the pasturage / then turneth it to russet stubble."
Transcript:
Belongs to: Aguelmouss III 9/67
About the session: This session includes conversations and interviews with the male villagers of Aguelmouss, as well as two examples of Qur’anic recitation. It is interesting to note that each Surah (Chapter) recited by the villagers is somehow related to agriculture –though it is unclear whether many of the Tachelhit-speaking villagers would fully understand the meaning of the Standard Arabic text. This is followed by a devotional song in Tachelhit (with heavy linguistic borrowing from Arabic due to the religious nature of the song) and a demonstration of donkey-driving yells.
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