Rāwēḥ: The fading echo of a lost generation
Endangered by the march of time, Rāwēḥ has become a test of hope and resilience. This once powerful tradition, that connected history, land and people between generations, is becoming a distant memory today.
“Customs, traditions, and culture are the identity of any nation. If they are lost, the nation loses everything and ceases to exist. Therefore, it is everyone's responsibility to preserve what we have of customs and traditions and take pride in them, as they make us unique,” highlights Mr Sargon Youkhanna, a notable and talented Assyrian musician and singer who performs Rāwēḥ extensively.
Rāwēḥ is a traditional genre of Assyrian poetry and folk music that holds a significant place in Assyrian culture. It can be clearly identified by its distinct melodic chanting and vocal technique, reflecting that of a voice echoing across the valleys amidst the mountains. Rāwēḥ entails unique vocal ornamentation where one alters their tone by continuously sustaining various notes to create a significantly emotional and melodic layer to the song. Rāwēḥ can also at times be paired with traditional musical instruments including the Oud, Qanun, and Daf.
Mr Youkhanna further emphasises the powerful impact Rāwēḥ has on him as it represents the soul of folklore poetry and music inspired by the daily life of the Assyrian people who lived a simple and uncomplicated life.
To perform Rāwēḥ, one can be of any age, location or level of experience. Notably, Mr Youkhanna explains, “This type of singing requires individual talent and artistic efforts, which few possess. However, I noticed during my recent visit to the land of my ancestors in northern Iraq that there are young people there who are very interested in performing the narrator, led by the talented eight-year-old girl, Mariam Oshalem William also known as Mimi by the villagers, who performs it skillfully.”
Rāwēḥ exists beyond the musical realm; Assyrians utilise this style of singing as a method of storytelling. As a medium for narrative expression, Mr Youkhanna explains that Rāwēḥ “contains descriptions of love, beauty, strength, pride, and genuine emotions through simple yet meaningful words and powerful poetic structures.”
The profound emotional resonance and evocative essence of Rāwēḥ has been deeply rooted in Assyrian culture and is continuously treasured and celebrated by the Assyrian community. Rāwēḥ holds an integral part of Assyrian musical heritage that is deeply rooted in rich cultural tradition, passed down intergenerationally in an attempt to preserve the Assyrian identity. Rāwēḥ is usually performed at celebratory occasions such as weddings, as well as gatherings and various cultural events.
Unfortunately today, the captivating and evocative vocal tradition of Assyrian folk music, Rāwēḥ, stands at a fragile edge, confronting the perilous possibility of fading into a distant echo. Young Assyrians in the diaspora are constantly tasked with the challenge of safeguarding their cultural heritage and traditions. At the core of this challenge lies Rāwēḥ as it deeply connects culture with history.
Specifically, certain age-old traditions Assyrian practices such as Rāwēḥ have been put at risk of eradication as younger generations are adapting to changing environments and societies outside of the homeland, due to the displacement and forced migration of their community. Assyrians share collective endeavours to uphold and protect their culture, however as they adjust, assimilate and integrate into the Western world, Assyrians living in the diaspora are confronted with a potentially daunting future.
In the current era of rapid modernisation and the widespread dispersion of Assyrian communities, younger generations are constantly engaging in and consuming Western pop culture and music that is influenced by external global media. Assyrian youth today have limited access to traditional customary knowledge and practices, instead engaging with contemporary trends and popular culture.
Mr Youkhanna continues to highlight “before I started singing it (Rāwēḥ), it was almost forgotten, especially among the young generation living abroad, moving further away from their land, customs, and traditions.” Subsequently, the appeal of tradition and ancient practices has depreciated as fewer young Assyrians have the opportunity to access, learn and master the intricate art of Rāwēḥ.”
“I took it as a first step to preserve it and bring it back to the ears of the new generation, and it received significant responsiveness in this authentic heritage singing,” adds Mr Youkhanna.
It is important to note here that the wisdom of this centuries-old vocal tradition lies in the hands of Assyrian elders. As younger generations lose their connection to the people of their nation, such traditions are at threat of being lost and will continue to be until intentional efforts are made to transmit this age-old wisdom intergenerationally beyond the borders of the homeland.
Though, Mr Youkhanna stresses that “protecting customs, traditions, and folklore in all aspects of life is everyone's responsibility, not limited to the singing of the narrator. To preserve it, we should be involved in all our events so that the new generation becomes more familiar with it and considers it an integral part of our music that has been stretching for thousands of years.”
There has been an undoubted increase in Assyrian communities and cultural organisations undertaking various initiatives aimed at safeguarding their cultural heritage, which encompasses traditional music and singing styles such as Rāwēḥ. These endeavours encompass a range of activities, namely, the meticulous documentation of age-old practices, performances at cultural events, as well as educational seminars and workshops around the world. These measures are designed to prevent the erosion of these cherished traditions over time.
“If we don't preserve our rich heritage scattered throughout the world, including writing, sculpture, music, and more, other nations will come and take it from us, just as they did with other things and attributed them to themselves.”
Rāwēḥ is slowly becoming a lost voice in a sea of generations. A distant song that once sang the stories of our nation is slowly fading away into the haunting depths of sorrow and loss.
The future of Rāwēḥ is in the hands of the entire Assyrian community. Though it is an immense responsibility, it is a crucial one. Rāwēḥ is not merely a compilation of unique rhythms and Assyrian lyrics, it is a representation of stories, people, land and the Assyrian identity. Today the songs are slowly vanishing away, becoming a distant echo of the voices of the Assyrian nation.
Sources
McCabe, C. (2019) Poems from the Edge of Extinction: The Beautiful New Treasury of Poetry in Endangered Languages, in Association with the National Poetry Library. Hachette UK.
SBS Language. (2022) Tribute to Assyrian music and singing legends. [Podcast]. 19 January 2022.
Younan, N. (2019) ‘Stateless Rhythms, Transnational Steps: Embodying the Assyrian Nation through Sheikhani Song and Dance’, Revue européenne des migrations internationales, 35(3–4), pp. 41–62.
Youkhanna, Sargon. Interview. Conducted by Shamiram Melody Yalda. 15/09/2023.
(الفلكلور والغناء الآشوري – The folklore & Assyrian singing) | Nala4U.com (no date).
