Sheikhates Blues 2004
Distributed by Arab Film Distribution, 10035 35th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125; 206-322-0882
Producer n/a
Directed by Ali Essafi
VHS, color, 52 min.
College - Adult
Multicultural Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Music, Women's Studies
Date Entered: 07/14/2006
Reviewed by Charles Burkart, Head, Audiovisual Library, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WVSheikhates Blues is a documentary about three traditional Arabic women singers from Morocco called sheikhates. The sheikhates recount their life experiences and demonstrate some of their passionate music. These talented woman musicians perform folk music and popular songs in a culture where female entertainers have not always been accepted. One elderly singer in 1953 (when she was fifteen years old) had to slip out of the house when her husband was asleep to perform her songs.
Evidently, the popularity of the sheikhate style of singer has declined recently, hence the title, Sheikhates Blues. When the traditional sheikhate style of music became less popular, the oldest singer had to retire and run a small grocery store. Nevertheless, the music still retains a traditional following, and Sheikhates Blues concludes with performances at the Rabat music festival of Arabic music in Morocco in 2003.
Some technical aspects of Sheikhates Blues are flawed. The video cassette was recorded at slow speed, either EP or SLP. Consequently, the picture quality is blurry, indistinct and sometimes color saturated. I also noticed several distracting visual surface glitches in the video. Sometimes the sheikhate’s interviews were recorded with irritating background street noise. These interviews could have been quieter and more controlled in a studio setting.
Furthermore, I felt that the structure of Sheikhates Blues could have been tighter. The video was somewhat confusing for listeners not familiar with the sheikhate tradition of singing. A narrator could easily have provided needed background material on Arabic music. Finally, not all of the interviews were interesting, or relevant to the video as a whole.
I wish that more time could have been devoted to the wonderful music of the sheikhate singers. The actual musical performances in this video were surprisingly short. Arab music is beautiful and needs to be better known in the West. However, because of previously mentioned technical and structural flaws in Sheikhates Blues, I really can’t recommend it.