Bahrain’s Fjiri is a musical performance that commemorates the history of pearl diving in the country. Before oil was discovered in 1932, most men in the country were pearl divers. They spent months at a time sailing out to sea, scouring the ocean depths in search of precious gemstones.
It was a stressful and often dangerous profession, so many of the divers needed some way to let loose while off-duty. That’s how Fjiri came about. Rhythmic, hypnotic, and frantic all at once, fjiri expresses the deep connection Bahrainis have with the ocean as well as the dangers of its native pearl divers.
A 19th-century music and dance tradition from Muharraq, musicians use instruments such as finger chimes, drums, and a clay pot known as a jahl. They sit around the edge of a circle, while a lead singer and dancer occupy the center. There are set structures for fjiri, with a common variation featuring five stages played sequentially.
In the beginning, there is fjiri bahri, which sets the mood. Then comes the slower, contemplative melody of the adsani, which will stir emotions. The third stage is ahadi, which is followed by mkholfi, which relieves stress and is meant to make the musicians feel comfortable. The last one is known as the “hip-hop of Bahrain”: fjiri hasawi.
Today, the practice has been seen spread in the Kingdom of Bahrain through festival performances, with groups such as the Ismael Dawas Band, still practicing every Wednesday evening in Muharraq. People who keep the tradition alive today are not professional pearl divers, but professional musicians.
The younger generation is also encouraged to participate in order to preserve the practice for the future. This folk-art form has become well-known throughout the country and is seen as a way to express the connection between the Bahraini people and the sea. The words, rhythms, and instruments are emphasized to convey the values of strength, perseverance, and resourcefulness.
Fjiri is usually performed in cultural spaces called durs by descendants of pearl divers and pearling crews and by others. It is usually transmitted through a process of practice in the durs, followed by a performance for audiences. Although it is performed by all-male ensembles, Fjiri is enjoyed by all members of the community.