Al-Sirah al-Hilaliyyah Epic is known as the legendary migration story of the Bani Hilal tribe from the Arabian Peninsula through North Africa around the 10th century. Their legendary migration story includes the tale of the tribe claiming a vast territory in Central North Africa until they were wiped out by Moroccan rivals. Twelve major oral epic poems were developed throughout history from the middle ages to the 19th century within the Arabic folk tradition. Al-Sirah al-Hilaliyyah, however, is the only art form that has survived and is performed today in its original musical form. Moreover, this art form, once prevalent throughout the Arab Middle East, has continued to exist only in Egypt.
For thousands of years, the Hilali epic has been sung at weddings, circumcision ceremonies, and private gatherings. The Hilali epic is unique literature and musical form which combines Arab folk history, customs, beliefs, symbolism, and traditions. Poets have performed the epic while playing the percussion instrument or the two-string spike fiddle (rabab). The performance can last for days. It can last between 50 and 100 hours. In fact, numerous proverbs and puzzles referring to the epics can be found all over the Middle East today. Furthermore, many regions are named after heroes from the epics. In addition, the epics serve as historical documents, while references to traditional food, customs, and practices serve as sociological documents. Al Sirah Al Hilaliyyah contains poetry and riddles and reflects the art of costume, jewelry, cosmetics, and community interaction through the centuries. It also makes observations on social norms, habits, and rituals throughout the centuries. This epic can be commended for its clear allowance of cultural diversity and its influence on the formation of community ethics. The epic is representative of different geographical locations and ethnicities in the community.
Compared to other Sirahs (epics), Al Hilaliyyah remains the only one that is performed orally by the Foll Tradition. The language used in its verse language is highly stylized, and its performers rely on theatrical expressions to enact some difficult parts. This is done by incorporating different vocal sounds, changing their voices to suit the personalities of the various characters, and using hands, facial expressions, and body motions that embody them.
In the past, practitioners were trained by family members and performed the epic as a means of income. Generally, professional poets begin their ten-year apprenticeship when they are five. Students are taught memory skills, but also have to master musical instruments. Nowadays, they must also learn how to add improvisational commentary to make plots more relevant to contemporary audiences. Because of competition from contemporary media and the decreasing number of young people who can commit to the rigorous training process, the number of Hilali Epic performers is diminishing. Under pressure from the lucrative Egyptian tourism industry, poets tend to abandon the full Hilali repertory in favor of short passages performed as part of folklore shows.
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