An Overview of Yemen and An Interview with Ebrahim Alareqi
Yemen is located in Asia in the Middle East on the far south of the Arabian
Peninsula. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It borders Saudi
Arabia and Oman on the land and Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia over the seas. Yemen’s
capital is Sana’a, and it has four geographic regions:
• The coastal plains in the West
• The western highlands
• The eastern highlands
• The Rub al Khali desert in the east
Yemen has a hot and dry climate (desert) but is very cold at night. During the
Summer, Yemen has frequent sand and dust storms. On the western coastal line, it is
hot and humid. Seasonal monsoons affect the climate in the Western mountains.
“Most Yemenis are of Arab origin, as most minorities left when the former states of
north and south Yemen were established” (UN World Population Prospects, 2019).
Yemen is primarily a tribal society with nearly 400 Zaydi tribes residing in the northern
region. After the Ottoman colonization, 10,000 to 30,000 Turkish people still live in
Yemen. There is also a relatively large community of Yemenite Jews residing in Yemen.
In addition to the Arabic, Turkish, and Yemenite Jews, there are also large groups of
Indonesians, Malaysians, and Singaporeans of Arab descent. Yemen also has about
160,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Somalia, Iraq, Ethiopia, and Syria. (UN
World Population Prospects, 2019)
Most of Yemen’s cultural influences come from the Sheba kingdom as well as from
early Islam. Most of Yemen’s music and dance stems from these times; however, many
modern Yemeni traditions were founded by the Yemenite Jews. Yemen is famous for its
craftsmanship; however, there are not many Yemeni craftsmen. The Jambiyah, a
traditional blade, is used by males and females during dance performances. Yemenis
dance with the Jambiyah during wedding ceremonies and other social occasions, but
the males and females dance separately. Yemen’s biggest tradition has been passed
down from ancient times, sharing poems and proverbs. These poems and proverbs
have been orally passed down through generations. Many of the poems and proverbs
focus on love, death, and happiness; however, some all provide biographical
information and historical events and traditions.
Yemeni music is strongly influenced by the Yemenite Jews. Traditionally,
Yeminite music was performed in the home while under the influence of a psychoactive
stimulant leaf called qat. This form of music is called homayni, and it can still be heard
in the capital city today. There are three major types of dance in Yemen: Zafeen, Sharh,
and Bara’. The Zafeen is typically performed by two dancers (male and female)
surrounded by an audience in the shape of a circle or rectangle. The Sharh is
performed among a large group of people in a circle with clubbing and singing. This
dance can be performed by two dancers (one can be a woman in certain areas. The
Bara’, also known as a war dance, is performed with drums and two or three dancers
holding jambiyahs and surrounded by many people. Yemen’s rich culture is shared
through music and dance.
Yemeni people typically eat three meals a day at home unlike many Americans.
Breakfast typically consists of sweet, strong tea with bread made of sorghum, wheat, or
barley; dinner includes a porridge prepared from fenugreek with meat, eggs,
vegetables, herbs, and spices, which is served hot in a stone or clay bowl; a light
supper consists of vegetables and/or dates. Lentils and peas are traditional staples in
Yemeni meals. Alcohol and pork are prohibited for many in Yemeni culture. Mealtime is
an important aspect of Yemeni culture as it is seen as a family tradition.
In Yemen, most marriages are arranged by the families. The groom’s father must
pay a bride price (mahr), and the family of the bride is expected to assist the bride in
times of hardship. Shari’a law allows a man to marry up to four wives if he treats them
all as equals; however, the rate of polygamy in Yemen is relatively low. The most
