Zaley (sometimes zalay) is a musical genre of the Zarma and Songhay people of Niger. Most famous during the 1940s and 1950s, it is a genre dominated by female performers, who take as the subject of their songs the virtues of men whose qualities they appreciated.[1] The word itself comes from the Zarma language, and denotes a blend of musical instruments with female voices;[2] it has also come to mean "amorous seeking".[1] Some writers have described the genre's significance as being similar to that of romanticism in nineteenth-century European culture.[2]

Notable singers of zaley have included Haoua Issa, sometimes called "Haoua Zaley", and Bouli Kakasi.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Abdourahmane Idrissa; Samuel Decalo (1 June 2012). Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press. pp. 474–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7090-1.
  2. ^ a b Kadima Nzuji Mukala; Alpha Noël Malonga (2004). Itinéraires et convergences des musiques traditionnelles et modernes d'Afrique. FESPAM. ISBN 978-2-7475-7584-3.
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