It was in Spain that Rasha began work on the critically acclaimed album, "Sudaniyat" (named by Folk Roots editor Ian Anderson as "One of the 10 best of 1997"). This album brings together the diversity of Sudanese music, ranging from Arabic poetry, sufi music and even touches of reggae. The tone of this tender album is set primarily by the Oud and percussion, with backing guitar and bass that magnificently accentuate Rasha's spectacular vocals. Thrown into the mix are violins, accordions and a Sudanese big band.
"I've always wanted to introduce my native music to a broader public and at the same time not limit it to the strictly traditional themes," she explains. "Sudan's music is incredibly diverse and differs in many ways from all other 'African' music: it is not as distinctly rhythmic and danceable - even though it is full of complex rhythms - but puts more emphasis on melody. It is more melancholic; it sounds downright sad. And even though it is, at a first glance, very similar to Arabic music, Sudanese music is different - a mixture of both, and yet unlike either of them." Another key feature of Rasha's work is her dedication to social justice, women's rights, and human rights for refugees. Rasha performed at the United Nation's Working Women's Day Celebration in 1998. She also traveled to the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria to raise awareness of the tens of thousands of Western Sahara refugees that have been trapped there for more than two decades.
Sites: Discogs and Gl.Wikipedia
Azara Alhai
Rasha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
رفقاً بالحيارى
هل رأيتن حبيباً قد توارى يا عذارى
عليلٌ عليل
واهٍ من قلبي و ليلي الطويل
يا عذارى الحي قد راح الجميل
لم يقل حتى وداعاً في الرحيل
خبريني أي عرفيني أين سار يا عذارى
صابر في الحب لم اشكو جراحي
يا تري المحبوب يدري عن براحي
لليالي الامس و اللهو المباح
أم تناسى يا عذارى
يا عذارى الحي
أين ليلاتتي
In Rasha's song "Azara Alhai," the lyrics speak of a lover who has gone missing and the desperation of the singer to find them. The opening lines, "Ya Azara Alhai, rufqan bil-hayara, hal ra'aytun habiban qad tawaraa ya Azara Alhai," call out to the chaste ones in the neighborhood, asking for mercy and help in finding the lost lover. The singer then describes the profound ailment of their heart and the long nights that they have endured while searching. The next lines, "Aylelun Aylel, wahim min qalbi wa layli altaweel, ya Azara Alhay qad raha al-jamil, lam yaqul hata wada'an fi al-rahil," reveal the sadness and confusion that the singer is experiencing.
The singer then asks the chaste ones if they know of the whereabouts of the person they are looking for, expressing their unwavering devotion and patience in the quest for love. The lyrics "Abeed al-hubb dini wa marahi, sabir fi al-hubb lam ashku jarahi, ya turi al-mahboub yadri an baraahi, lilayali al-ams wa al-lahu al-mubah, am tanasi ya Azara Alhai?" can be interpreted as the singer questioning whether their lover knows of their devotion and struggle, or if they have forgotten about them. The song ends with the singer pleading, "Ya Azara Alhai, ayna laylati, ya Azara Alhai," asking the chaste ones once again where their lover may be.
Line by Line Meaning
يا عذارى الحي
Oh maidens of the neighborhood
رفقاً بالحيارى
Be kind to the unfortunate
هل رأيتن حبيباً قد توارى يا عذارى
Did you see my beloved who disappeared, oh maidens?
عليلٌ عليل
Sick, so sick
واهٍ من قلبي و ليلي الطويل
Oh, the pain in my heart and the long nights
يا عذارى الحي قد راح الجميل
Oh maidens, the beauty has gone
لم يقل حتى وداعاً في الرحيل
He didn't even say goodbye on departure
خبريني أي عرفيني أين سار يا عذارى
Tell me, do you know where he went, oh maidens?
عابد الحب ديني و مراحي
Devoted to love, my religion and my sanctuary
صابر في الحب لم اشكو جراحي
I endure in love, I don't complain about my wounds
يا تري المحبوب يدري عن براحي
I wonder if my lover knows about my comfort
لليالي الامس و اللهو المباح
For the past nights and prohibited pleasures
أم تناسى يا عذارى
Did he forget, oh maidens?
يا عذارى الحي
Oh maidens of the neighborhood
أين ليلاتتي
Where are my nights?
Writer(s): Rasha Shekheldein Tibriel, Eliseo Parra Garcia
Contributed by Jordyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ibtissambenslimane1816
هل رأيتن حبيباً قد توارى يا عذارى
عابد الحب ديني و مراحي
صابر في الحب لم اشكو جراحي يا تري المحبوب يدري عن براحي لليالي الامس و اللهو المباح أم تناسى يا عذارى يا عذارى الحي أين ليلاتتي فقد مرت حيارى عهد حبي و الاماني يا عذارى ليلنا طهر بلا راح سكارى بليالي الود و الود شعاره
فنساها و توارى يا عذارى
فرفقاً بالحيارى هل رأيتن حبيباً قد توارى يا عذارى
@AFRODUB
Rasha SheikhEldin actually has made the difference in this song and translated the nice melody to jazzy style keeping the Sudanese tempo in place , RIP legend Abdelaziz Mohamed Daoud original composer of the song
@Theshark15z
I heard this song on Monday on my local radio station. On certain hours they play music from different cultures and for some reason this artist caught my attention. I managed to go online and find this album for sale. I was pleased to find out that this record "Sundaniyat" is under "World" genre. To me "World" never gets dull and always has my deepest thoughts. It has many different styles. For instance, Rasha albums consist of Jazz, Gypsy, Reggae, Latin, Calypso, Samba, Rock, Folk, etc.
@praszu
I love all sort of well baked world music fusion genre pieces of music.
@virginiefaure1742
Super morceau venant d'une sublime compilation de Musiques du Desert. Plus de 20 ans mes CDS! Mais! Quand c'est bon c'est eternel! ❤
@EvLSkillz
Listening to this in 2020, in Bucharest, Romania.
:) so crazy :X
amazing song!
@julianleil7847
The whole album is truly magnificent.
@abereta
I was in Barnes & Noble book store and heard this song and loved it. I asked for the CD but I was told it is a collection of ROMANTICA CD. I bought the CD only for this song. it is #3 on that CD. Music is a universal language as they said ..love it
@alaagoni8227
It is old Sudanese song, original singer ( Abdalaziz Mohammad Dawood )
@ecotrop
I am from Brasil and I love this music. I am using it while preparing my lectures in the University :) Thank you :)
@777ysl6
incredible!! May there be peace again in sudan