Semsemiah: instrument crafting and playing
Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Inscribed in 2024 (19.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
© Egyption Film Commission (EFC) / Abdulrahman Ayeel, Saudi Arabia, 2023 Semsemiah is a popular harp-like instrument that is crafted and played among communities in the Suez Canal region. The body is attached to three wooden poles that form a triangle. The instrument is usually crafted by the players themselves, using natural or recycled materials such as wood or metal. The semsemiah is used by singers, musicians, composers, sailors (in Saudi Arabia), fishermen, and ship traders (in Egypt). It is featured in concerts, holidays, weddings, football matches and cultural festivals. Players and craftspeople include people of all ages, genders, backgrounds and abilities. The skills of crafting and playing the instrument are usually transmitted informally, within families and communities, or through bands, master players, practitioners and craftspeople. Semsemiah playing and crafting is taught from an early age, starting at about eight years. In Egypt, the practice is also transmitted formally through workshops and training courses in certain educational institutes. In Saudi Arabia, the internet and social media have become popular means of transmission. An important means of expression, the semsemiah is closely associated with the sea and is present on fishing boats for entertainment. The music enhances peace and social cohesion through communal gatherings that include people from all social classes.
