“The idea of Al-Mesaharati emerged from a creative imitation of the old Fatimid tradition of what was called Al-Tasheer,” Inas told Al-Ahram Weekly. Dressed in a galabiya and a hat, and holding a drum in his hand, the job of the mesaharati is to wake people up by calling their names, just two hours before dawn, in time for them to have their last meal, or Sohour, before the break of a new day. This tradition is now dramatically diminishing.
Al-Mesaharati is sung boldly by Mekkawi only with the company of a drum, whose beat separates the different stanzas. However, Mekkawi’s outstanding performance is such that it gives listeners the impression that it is in fact full of music.
Ismailimail 