Shamadan- Part 1-The Zeffa
History
A shamadan is basically a purpose built candelabra that you "wear" on your head while dancing. It is believed it began as part of the wedding celebrations. It is used in the wedding procession -the zeffa. The shamadan can also be used as part of the nightclub performance where it is worn while dancing (see part 2 the dance). These two uses of shamadan are separate things. This page mainly looks at the use of the shamadan as part of the zeffa procession
The Zeffa
The Zeffa al arousa is the procession of the Bride and is led by dancers and musicians followed by the wedding party. It traditionally takes place at night through the streets from the home of the Brides parents to her new home at the grooms house. It is also accompanied by lots of zaghreet cries from the woman. The idea is to make sure everyone knows the couple is married.
It is thought that shamadan as part of the wedding procession began in the early part of the twentieth century, before that time the zeffa was led by dancers and musicians and the light was provided by 3ft long wedding candles and lanterns. The special wedding candles are still an important part of the procession and are carried by the bridesmaids as in this picture. There is special music to be used during the procession known as the Zeffa.
Nowadays the wedding celebrations are held in a hotel or function room and the Zeffa takes place through the hotel foyer into the reception room where it will circle the room and take the bride and groom to their special wedding thrones. In Egypt the procession may be stopped several time for entertainment. It can take an hour or more.
Here is the great Nadia Hamdi (see part 2- the dance) leading a zeffa in a film which depicts all the ladies going to the Bath House about a couple of days before the wedding- a tradition that has largely died out now, replaced by Henna parties at home.
Nowadays the wedding celebrations are held in a hotel or function room and the Zeffa takes place through the hotel foyer into the reception room where it will circle the room and take the bride and groom to their special wedding thrones. In Egypt the procession may be stopped several time for entertainment. It can take an hour or more.
Here is the great Nadia Hamdi (see part 2- the dance) leading a zeffa in a film which depicts all the ladies going to the Bath House about a couple of days before the wedding- a tradition that has largely died out now, replaced by Henna parties at home.
Shamadan from TheCarovan Bellydance Videos on Vimeo.
This next clip is actually 3 clips, the first one is of wedding entertainment with a dancing horse, the middle clip is of a wedding zeffa and the last clip is Gulf music. Its a short clip of a wedding zeffa but has a shamadan dancer leading the bride and groom.
Another zeffa from an Egyptian film featuring a shamadan dancer from 1985
A clip from a 1956 film with a dancer without shamadan leading the zeffa into the room. Notice the bridesmaids with the 3ft candles just like in the picture at the top of the page.
Dancing at a Wedding
It used to be very popular to have a dancer to entertain at the reception and a real status symbol if you could afford someone like Dina or Asmahan. The custom for having a dancer at the actual entertainment afterwards does not always happen these days. They might have a singer instead
Here is Dina
Here is Dina
And here is Samesen, a Swedish dancer who worked in Cairo in the 1990s. Here the zeffa is incorporated into the entertainment.
Music for Zeffa
The song that is used most often is this one Etmakartari ya helwa ya zena translation here
traditional zeffas can be found onthe following CDs all of these are this song or use this song as part of a medley
CD Cairo classic with Fifi Abdo (Hollywood music centre)
CD Best of Modern Belly Dance from Arabia by Aboud Abdel Al (ARC music)has a 10 minute zeffa It is an instrumental version.
Dokku al Mazaher on CD Jalilah Raks Sharki 4
CD Belly Dance Sensation 3 short zeffas that you could use as one long one or shorter version
Recently I have discovered a CD called Egyptian Weddings I thought was out of print is now available for download on Amazon UK. It is really useful for Zeffas
traditional zeffas can be found onthe following CDs all of these are this song or use this song as part of a medley
CD Cairo classic with Fifi Abdo (Hollywood music centre)
CD Best of Modern Belly Dance from Arabia by Aboud Abdel Al (ARC music)has a 10 minute zeffa It is an instrumental version.
Dokku al Mazaher on CD Jalilah Raks Sharki 4
CD Belly Dance Sensation 3 short zeffas that you could use as one long one or shorter version
Recently I have discovered a CD called Egyptian Weddings I thought was out of print is now available for download on Amazon UK. It is really useful for Zeffas
Something a little less traditional
Warning-discuss this with the bride first particularly if you want to use a shaabi song!
Mabrouk sung by Saad el Soghayer (shaabi)-I like the version on Saad and Amina CD The greats of Shaabi- its on the bellydance superstars/Miles Copeland label. this version is a good edit and has a nice ending.
Mabrouk sung by Saad el Soghayer (shaabi)-I like the version on Saad and Amina CD The greats of Shaabi- its on the bellydance superstars/Miles Copeland label. this version is a good edit and has a nice ending.
Translation
Mabrouk: Congratulations
women singing the traditional zeffa mentioned above
Chorus which is repeated several time in the song
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk ya albi 3alaina-Congrats, my heart, for both of us
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk-Congrats
Habeebna ba2a fi edainamy love (referring to the lady) is now between my hands
Mabrouk ya albi 3alaina
Congrats, my heart, for both of us
Da habeebna ba2a fi edainamy love is now between my hands
Ha nhawwish , wi nrawwish, wi nhot ginai 3ala ginai
we are going to save up, become rich, and stack money on top of money
Wi hanibni bait ana wi howwa, wi nkhosh no23od gowwawe are going to build a house, me and him (referring to the lady, but its traditional to use masculine to describe feminine in Egyptian music), and we are going to sit inside it
Niddala3, wintalla3….kol illi nifsina fee
Get all mushy, and create….everything we desire
Alla wi akbar min 3ainko
God almighty from all of your eyes (Egyptian expression to keep away the evil eye)
Wi hahibbo ghasbin 3ankoI am going to love him (referring to her) even if you don’t want me to
Tab khamsa, wi khmaisa…..bi 3ain 2ay had yi2orr
five in the eye of anyone that is giving us the evil eye (traditional expression)
Di floosi hatib2a floosu
my money will become his (her) money
Law 3ayiz abooso aboosoAnd if I want to kiss him, I will kiss him (referring to her)
Barkoulna, Ghanoulna….illaila di lailit il 3omr
Congratulate us, sing for us….this night is a night of all eternity
Here is a very short clip of me leading a zeffa with this song
Mabrouk: Congratulations
women singing the traditional zeffa mentioned above
Chorus which is repeated several time in the song
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk ya albi 3alaina-Congrats, my heart, for both of us
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk-Congrats
Mabrouk-Congrats
Habeebna ba2a fi edainamy love (referring to the lady) is now between my hands
Mabrouk ya albi 3alaina
Congrats, my heart, for both of us
Da habeebna ba2a fi edainamy love is now between my hands
Ha nhawwish , wi nrawwish, wi nhot ginai 3ala ginai
we are going to save up, become rich, and stack money on top of money
Wi hanibni bait ana wi howwa, wi nkhosh no23od gowwawe are going to build a house, me and him (referring to the lady, but its traditional to use masculine to describe feminine in Egyptian music), and we are going to sit inside it
Niddala3, wintalla3….kol illi nifsina fee
Get all mushy, and create….everything we desire
Alla wi akbar min 3ainko
God almighty from all of your eyes (Egyptian expression to keep away the evil eye)
Wi hahibbo ghasbin 3ankoI am going to love him (referring to her) even if you don’t want me to
Tab khamsa, wi khmaisa…..bi 3ain 2ay had yi2orr
five in the eye of anyone that is giving us the evil eye (traditional expression)
Di floosi hatib2a floosu
my money will become his (her) money
Law 3ayiz abooso aboosoAnd if I want to kiss him, I will kiss him (referring to her)
Barkoulna, Ghanoulna….illaila di lailit il 3omr
Congratulate us, sing for us….this night is a night of all eternity
Here is a very short clip of me leading a zeffa with this song