Salaams and the Pearl Divers of Bahrain

Fijiri (also spelled fidjeri) is the sea-song repertoire of the pearl-diving communities of the Persian Gulf, especially in Bahrain and Kuwait. It is led by a powerful soloist (the nahhām) who is answered by a chorus of divers, creating a call-and-response texture supported by handclaps and very sparse percussion. The core instruments are the mirwās, a small double-sided hand drum played with the fingers, and the jāhlah, a clay pot struck and rubbed with the hands. Together with coordinated clapping, they generate the interlocking rhythms that propel the songs. Melodically, fijiri draws on Gulf-Arab modal practice and features melismatic, ornamented solo lines floating over the steady pulse of the chorus. Traditionally performed at weekly gatherings of divers and crew, fijiri alternates free, emotive solos with tightly synchronized choral sections. The texts evoke the sea, the hardships and camaraderie of diving, spiritual reflection, and the longing felt during long voyages.