Al-Ayyala: A Shared Performing Art of the UAE and Oman
Al-Ayyala combines chanted poetry, drum music and dance to simulate a battle scene. Practised in the UAE and north-western Oman, it features two facing rows of men, with girls standing at the front during UAE performances. The lead performer typically inherits the role. UNESCO inscribed the element on the Representative List in 2014.
Performance Structure: Facing Rows and Drum Rhythms
UNESCO describes Al-Ayyala as a shared heritage form practised throughout the United Arab Emirates and north-western Oman. It brings together chanted poetry, drum music and dance to simulate a battle scene.
Two facing rows, usually about twenty men each, carry thin bamboo sticks representing spears or swords. They move their heads and sticks to the drum rhythm while chanting poetic lyrics. Drummers and other performers move between the lines.
Poetry and Movement: Simulating Battle
Movement, stick handling and chanted lyrics recreate the dynamics of a battle. Performers coordinate their actions with the drum rhythms guiding the formation.
The Role of Girls in the UAE Performance
In the UAE variation documented by UNESCO, girls in traditional dresses stand at the front line, tossing their long hair from side to side.
The Inherited Role of the Lead Performer
According to the UNESCO record, the lead performer usually holds an inherited role and trains the other participants. Performances take place at weddings and festive occasions.
UNESCO Inscription as Shared Heritage
UNESCO inscribed Al-Ayyala on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014, recognising it as a shared cultural practice of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.