Ramadan drummers: a well-preserved, age-old tradition in Bahrain

By Zahraa Hussain Manama, April. 21 (BNA): Bahrain has enthusiastically embraced Ramadan with its blessings, customs and traditions with an open heart. “Al Masaher” (Ramadan drummer) is one of the best-preserved traditions that invariably fascinates both the young and the less young. “Al Masaher” is a man who roams around at night in neighborhoods during the month of Ramadan and beats the drum to wake people up and alert them to eat their suhoor – the pre-dawn meal to help with the fasting throughout the day. This ancient tradition was initiated during the spread of Islam and evolved with time to include drums, poetry, folk songs, and singing, giving each community and country their own uniqueness. The kingdom has embraced this tradition certainly with a simple drum as people called the night walker as “Abu Tobaila”, meaning the person who has a drum and walks around calling people to wake up. Children who stay up late would wait to watch “Al Mosahar” and join him while singing in the streets and calling people to wake up. The drumming is not a real job, but people reward the drummer with grain, rice or money as a token of appreciation. While each village in Bahrain has practiced this tradition for centuries, “Al Moshaer” shows up only during Ramadan and doesn't perform his actual duty anymore. Technology has certainly made it easier for people to set up their alarms and wake up for their pre-dawn meal. Yet, this tradition has survived the challenges of technology and time, reminding people of their significant culture and special traditions practiced during the holy month. “Nothing excites us more than to still hear Al Mosaher call at midnight with his drum. It truly indicates how we, as a society, love to hold on to our traditions and share them with children just as we lived them when we were younger,” Abdullateef, a Bahraini grandfather, said. What made this tradition special is how each community orchestrated it to fit within its own rituals.