Article - Yamina, One of the Most Beautiful Poems in Algerian Folklore, Author - Mohammed Rahhal

Yamina, One of the Most Beautiful Poems in Algerian Folklore

Mohammed Rahhal

This is a popular poem by the Algerian poet Mustafa Ben Ibrahim (1800-1867). It was composed in 1833, three years after the occupation of Algeria. He is also known for his many popular poems, including "My Heart Knew Homelands, They Left Me to Weep" and others.

This poem is one of the poems that accompanied the French occupation of Algeria during that period.

A Brief Biography of the Poet

Mustafa Ben Ibrahim (born c. 1800 - Boujebha in the Sidi Bel Abbès region - died 1867) was a prominent Algerian poet, after whom the Mustafa Ben Ibrahim region in the Sidi Bel Abbès province in western Algeria is named. He followed his father's profession as a Quran teacher and then became a judge in his hometown. The French administration appointed him as caliph and then commander of the Ouled Slimane tribe, until he achieved a prominent position among the entire Beni Amer tribe. Colonel Lacretal appointed him as commander over the Oulad Baligh, and he settled among them and married among them. Then he immigrated to Fez in Morocco and lived there for about 5 years, but he remained in constant contact with his relatives in Sidi Bel Abbes. He returned to his hometown where he settled into complete peace. It seems that his worries reached their end due to the loss of his position among his family and his alienation from his homeland. He met his Lord in the year 1867 and was buried in the plain of the mosque (Sidi Bel Abbes) between the domes. No building was placed on his grave, as he had wished in one of his poems. Mustafa Ben Ibrahim recorded the most important events of his life and included them in verses of poetry. These verses spread among people until his fame spread throughout the villages and countryside, and poets began to follow his example. He was the first to formulate the first lines of Bedouin poetry in folk poetry. He is considered the first folk poet to compose Bedouin poetry in folk heritage.

Its fame as a song:

In the twentieth century, most of his poems were sung. "Yamna" was among the poems sung. The great artist Ahmed Wahbi performed it throughout 1957. After independence, it became frequently performed at events, when rai music began to emerge and move away from the traditional sheikh style. In the late 1970s, Cheb Khaled performed it again in 1981 in the style of Ahmed Wahbi. He then performed it again in a video clip in 1988. It was subsequently performed by young rai singers of the time, such as Cheb Hamid, Cheb Sahraoui, and Hakim Salhi in 1991. It became one of the most famous songs sung in Algerian heritage and reached international acclaim through rai music.

His Poems

Song Poem Inquiry

I will never forget my ordeal

For as long as I've been happy

God's law between you and me

Keep your dignity, O Yamna

O Yamna

This is a happy and blessed day *** On it I have met you, O Yamna

O crown of souls, how are you *** The illness that you have has consumed us

I have no strength to see you *** And ask people about betrayal

My heart is terrified by your harm *** If God accepts from us

We will endure your harm *** And if you die, God have mercy on us

As He forgives me, He will forgive you *** Your sins and mine

How great is your beauty, O Yamna

She said your heart is not with me *** Nor did I ask the question of the ulcer

When I found you, you were helping *** I spoke to you only with a whisper

You do not send your messenger to me *** In my sickness nor in health

I only want you with my goodness *** Covering up every scandal from you

For two months, we called in the fever *** Until I melted like salt melts

Every night and day We call *** What is not sweet in a moment of sleep

The harm has gone and cleared my body *** My Lord has pardoned and comfort has poured

I said to her, "Praise be to God" *** When you have become pure, radiant and veiled

******

I miss and long for your face *** This is a blessed hour for us

Your heart is still with me *** You have baptized me and are sick of temptation

We pray to God that I marry you *** I am His law and the truth is on our side

She said to me, "Dissatisfy your mind" *** You do not covet love from us

The heart died because of your ordeal *** O pure God, forgive us

O pure God, forgive us

O manna, how can you rest *** When my love for you is love?

O manna, O mother of my eyes *** Forgive me and accept victory

O manna, you have damaged my wound *** I have no doctor but you

O manna, be happy with my relief *** With your looks and the passion of a butcher

O manna, O flower of my bloom *** With your pleasure, I relieve distress

O manna, you have exchanged my joy *** For sadness, your joys are a calamity

O manna Your hand sets me free *** Enough of the pain and anger

O you who have spent my soul *** You have pierced my heart with a spear