Growing up abroad was one of the most pertinent parts of my childhood. Living in a new, foreign environment allowed me
to forage some of the most vital experiences and friends…Yet I often looked for ways I could connect with my own Kuwaiti heritage – one which was practically alien to me despite being embedded in my own alien reflection. I eventually found that I could connect with my family, 5000 KM away, through patriotic Kuwaiti songs (most commonly played on Kuwait’s national day). They allowed me to act as a mudlark, finding a gold rush of pride and culture amongst the rivers of migrancy.
In this article, I have ferreted 3 classic Kuwaiti songs that reminded me of home throughout my years overseas – just in time
for National Day! Under each song title is a link to the song itself.
1. اماً الكويت وإلا فلا
“Either Kuwait or nothing at all”.
One of the most iconic Kuwaiti songs, its music video (linked above) is fervently eccentric and only furthers its memorability. Patriotic kuwaiti songs often include incredibly poetic lyrics, this song being a model example.
Repeated throughout the song are the lyrics:
“As long as your pride endures, your place is in the very center of the heart, O soul and heart of your people, we love you, yes we love you, O Kuwait”
By being chanted recurrently throughout the song, these lyrics create a cadence which mimics a heartbeat. This is only exemplified by the use of traditional Kuwaiti drums. Therefore the lyrics reflect the rhythm of the song, creating audible imagery that truly allows us to understand the love for Kuwait perpetuated in this track.
2.هنا هنا أصبح المجد هنا
“Here, here – glory was born here”.
https://youtu.be/CK8AdJ9Gatk?si=cdNcFpv6I6a2hqpL
Through its lyrics, the song acts as a love letter to Kuwait, personifying the country in:
“Kuwait is a nation that never bows down, in it are men who love her
And we stand with her, we came to sing our love for her”
The theme of personifying Kuwait is incredibly common in Kuwaiti music and only deepens the loyalty and patriotic pride showcased in these songs.
A sea chant – “holo ya maal ya malieh/يا حلالي يا مالي” – can be heard throughout the song. This chant is not intended to be translated literally. Its literal translation is ‘my livestock, my wealth’ – originating from a folk tale, in which it is lamented by a wealthy man who seldom shared, and was later ambushed by rebels. Hence it is used as a celebratory cry, one which is utilised in this song as an invocation, conveying the Kuwaiti people’s deep rooted love for their country.
3. يا زين الكويت
“Oh, the beauty of Kuwait!”
https://youtu.be/nNorsp_Dwp4?si=s9dKOb-XUgNTIKTF
Of all the Kuwaiti music played on National Day, this has continuously been my personal favourite. Its iconic music video, set in the famous Avenues mall, led it to become a household classic throughout my childhood. No matter how many times I listen to this song, its lyrics never fail to enthrall me in their poetic nature. Some of my favourites include:
“Kuwait and the Arabs, family and kin, as if around her they are the eye and the ear.”
And “On your land we walked, on it we built, you are our homeland and no other did we love”
These lyrics not only reference Kuwait’s history and bedouin nature, but furthermore the ties between the land and its people, describing the Kuwaiti people as Kuwait’s eyes and ears, therefore presenting the incessant bond between the two entities as obstinate and unmoving.
