“Jatna Uloom Tarateesh al-Jawfiya”.. A Tale from the Mountain's Memory
In a new episode of the “Behind the Song” program, we recall the story of the “Jatna Uloom Tarateesh” Jawfiya, which carried in its lyrics the echoes of the confrontation with the Ottoman campaign in Jabal al-Druze in 1910, and the accompanying arrests and execution sentences.
In March 1911, Marjeh Square in Damascus witnessed the execution of several men from the mountain, including Dhuqan al-Atrash, father of Sultan Pasha al-Atrash.
With lyrics by an unknown author, the Jawfiya documented the spirit of defiance and the refusal to submit, turning over time into a part of the popular memory passed down through generations via singing and the rababa.
Today, with the recollection of the events of July 2025, questions are renewed about the role of song in preserving tales and connecting the past to the present.
“Behind the Song”.. The tales of the mountain that remained alive in memory and voice.
