Description
The “Mahāhā” is a form of traditional folk art common in the Levant, performed exclusively by women. It is a song of joy, usually performed solo, beginning with a loud, drawn-out voice to capture the attention of the audience amidst their silence. It consists of verses ending with a rhyming couplet, either in sound or meter. A single Mahāhā is composed of four verses, all sharing the same rhyme except for the third, though sometimes the second and fourth verses share the same rhyme. Other forms of Mahāhā exist, consisting of six, eight, or even ten verses, though these are rare. Each verse begins with a single word or a refrain that serves as a call, such as “Ahi,” “Hay Hi Bi,” “Ayyi,” “Yuwi,” “Aah Yi,” or “Oyha,” depending on the region or country.
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