Fadwa, directora de la escuela de danzas árabes ‘Nur al Ámar’ (Montevideo Uruguay) en los estudios del canal 5 junto a la gran orquesta árabe de Mario Kirlis:
:: Mario Kirlis en Laud
:: Gaston Chaade en Qanun
:: Matias Hazrum en Derbake
:: Pablo Ventura en Massar y Daff
Es una improvisacion del tema Aziza que la orquesta interpreta para el programa “Igualito” en Canal 5 conducido por Omar Gutierrez, previo a la muestra anual de alumnas y show arabes en Sala Zitarrosa el pasado lunes 23 de Noviembre.
Fadwa, director of the school of Arabic dance: ‘Nur al Ámar’ (Montevideo Uruguay) in the studios of channel 5 along with the grand orchestra of Mario Kilis:
:: Mario Kirlis on Lute
:: Gaston Chaade en Kanun (Arabic Zither)
:: Matias Hazrum pn Derbake (Arabic Drum)
:: Pablo Ventura on Massar y Daff (I have no idea)
It is an improvisation of the Aziza theme that the orquestra interprets for the program “Igualito” on Canal 5, directed by Omar Gutierrez, prior to the annual Arab exhibition, in Zitarrosa Hall, of students and show on Monday 23 November [2009].
What is interesting is how mainstream this is in South America.
Salta, Argentina is a resort town on the Argentine side of the Andes. It is in the subtropical Northwest of the country, and is famous for nearby cactus, which resemble our Arizona Saguaro.
What it is also famous for is a noticeable Arab community.
For an idea of what Salta is like in total:
The area around Salta is subtropical, arid and dry and resembles the climate of the Mideast the Arabs had left. So many Arab immigrants settled in the area.
However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the arrival of Italian, Spanish and Arab immigrants, particularly Syrians and Lebanese, revived trade and agriculture all over the area while further enhancing the city’s multicultural flavor.
Notice however that much of this immigration is over a hundred years ago. We are looking at 3rd and 4th generation Argentine-born citizens. They may be monolingually Spanish now, but they kept the culture.
Viña de Mar is a resort town on the Pacific with a climate similar to Los Angeles. Valparaiso is the adjacent city and a major port town.
They both have significant Arab populations.
Arabic dancing is ubiquitous in South America, and culturally equivalent to Celtic dancing in America. America has more Celts; South America more Arabs. But the cultural penetration is similar. Both have become mainstream, and now have drawn in membership from outside the original communities.
Look at the dancers. These are from middle class or wealthier families. A glance at their complexions will show that many are only partly-Arabic. Yet, this is how mainstream Arabic Dancing has become in South America.
In America, this might draw suspicion. In Chile, it draws respect, and to a degree, envy.
This site is about an attempt for peace; an attempt to demolish all stereotypes and think outside the box.
– If you came to this site to find some bigot who trashes Zionists, then forget it. Go somewhere else.
– If you came to this site to find some bigot who trashes Arabs, then forget it. Go somewhere else.
– If you came to this site to find some politically correct defense of this or that foreign policy, then forget it. Go somewhere else.
– This site is going to examine an aspect of Arab and Latin History than most of the world knows nothing about.
– This site is going to examine the present conditions in Latin America, and the Arab World, to see if peace can be obtained (even if only partially) by taking unique advantage of the history of Latin America vis a vis Arabs.
What happened?
Desde El Aljibe – Argentina Public TV – 2005
Credit/Source: ElAljibedetodos NOTE: At the ending there are Argentine sponsors,
and Argentina’s Channel 7 credits
In the spring of 2011, as I was studying my Spanish, I wandered by accident on to a serious of internet videos and websites which showed an amazing Arab subculture in South America. I had not expected this at all, let alone the enormity of it.
The more I researched it, the more I was utterly amazed. Each video lead to 10 more. Each website to 20 more. Pretty soon, I had discovered a mighty, thriving subculture that few people outside of Latin America knew about.
What I found out?
To my utter amazement I found out:
1) There are more than 20 plus million Arabs in South America and millions more in Central America and Latin America.
2) They are not merely middle class, but many are the elites of their societies.
3) The vast majority are Christian, though they did not all arrive as Christians.
4) They have assimilated exceptionally well.
5) Most are intermarried and/or do not speak Arabic any more.
6) But while their Arabic language was lost, the culture and cuisine, and pride were not.
7) We never hear about this in the USA because our media is biased.
8) Arab culture is a major subculture in Latin America. Unlike in the USA, it is not despised; but regarded highly, especially in light of their communal success.
9) If we realign our thinking, maybe the West can use South America to be a bridge to the Mideast, and maybe Latin America can provide a refuge for some Palestinian refugees who have no where else to go.
Not bad thing for a non-Arab, non-Hispanic American to wander into on the internet.
I wish I were younger. My middle aged brain struggles with basic Spanish. Were I in my teens, I would be learning both Spanish and Arabic.
Put aside your prejudices and pre-conceived notions. South American Arab culture will evaporate every one of them.
