Aswan Dancers

The first section is songs we learned while singing with Aswat (which means voices in Arabic) is a non-profit public benefit corporation based in San Francisco at The Arabic Cultural Center and is organized to provide for and instruction in, exhibition, presentation, and discussion of Arabic Music, art, poetry, literature, theater and culture, generally, and to provide a forum for the public expression of Arabic music, literature, poetry, theater, art and culture.

Aswat, founded by Nabila Mango in 2000, is dedicated to promoting the Arabic culture through its music and song. It is an institution that expreses the rich heritage of the Arab world. "We want our children to know more of our culture than just the food. We want them to love and appreciate our musica nd dance, our poetry, our literature and customs. We can only do that if we establish long-term institutions that will outlive us and perpetuate the culture that we love. We want to embed the love of Arabic music in our families, schools, organizations and the larger community." Under Nabila's leadership we have performed at many public events and universities and were invited to and performed at the Seattle Arabic Festival in 2001.

shlonak aeini shlonak
shim mkhalli-alachfoonak
shlonak aeini shlonak
shim mkhalli-alachfoonak
shegaad shuftiaooyoonnana wallah
makoaHlam-n aooyoonak
shegaad shuftiaooyoonnana wallah
makoaHlam-n aooyoonak

music 1x

Teir entam ni jenna
HaTTi brooHiw ghanne
Teir entam ni jenna
HaTTi brooHiw ghanne
tiderish gadat manna
aghifabain ichfoonak
tiderish gadat manna
aghifabain ichfoonak

music 1x

la't khalleenib Heira
yell wuchnatak leira
la't khalleenib Heira
yell wuchnatak leira
waynaana byadeera
dhiatib baynich foonak
waynaana byadeera
dhiatib baynich foonak

What a rising moon, what lofty height [ie "tall is good"]
I'm afraid people's admiration will draw you bad luck [Evil Eye]
A bird from heaven you are, that landed in my soul and sang.
You know how much i would like to slumber betweeen your eyelids.
Dont leave me so discombobulated, Rosy Cheeks.
Where am i, in which town?
Ive gotten lost between your eyelids.

***********
Skaba-ya Dmu' Ila'ayn Skaba

Skaba-ya Dmu' Ila'ayn Skaba
tai wahkik wla tjibi hadaba
Winn jiti wijibti hada ma'aki
La hiddiddar waj'alha kharaba

Shuft izzayn mashi fil barriyyi
Khadd ahmar wjoz 'uyun 'a saliyyi
Kirmal izzayn rah ghanni ghinniyyi
Wisir sha'ir wghanni 'arrababa

Shuftil zein yigmizni fi 3eino
Wallah ya nas ma beini w-beino
Ya nasil zein dillouni feinu
Jarahni-w-rah fa'ad minnis sawaba

hali hali hal mali mali mal
mali mali mal hali hali hal