Madeeh ( madīḥ) is a song-like recitation of Islamic poetry praising Allah and the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Ethnomusicologist Artur Simon described madeeh as "praise, praise poem, glorification and, in this context, praise hymn in honour of Allah and Muhammad. It is usually recited by one male performer or a small group of men and may be accompanied by hand clapping or traditional hand drums.
Religious practice in Islamic societies
The poetic lyrics of madeeh typically express emotional religiosity akin to Sufi rituals or moral religious concepts. Usually they are performed in private celebrations or public festivities, such as the mawlid-an-Nabi, but may also be heard in the alleys of traditional markets.
See also
- Sufism
- Music of Sudan
References
Further reading
- Simon, Artur (ed.) (1998). Ḏikr und Madīḥ: islamische Gesänge und Zeremonien im Sudan, Museum Collection Berlin 22 and 23, [2 CDs, incl. notes by A. Simon]
- Zenkovsky, S. (1950). ‘Zar and Tambura as practised by the women of Omdurman’, Sudan Notes and Records, 31, pp. 65–85