A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alheda’a oral tradition reflects the Arabs’ enduring bond with camels
RIYADH: Alheda’a, a folk art passed down from generation to generation in Arab societies, reflects the deep bond between camels and locals.
Camel herders use Alheda’a – a combination of sounds, gestures, and sometimes musical instruments – to communicate with their camels. These rhythmic expressions, inspired by poetry, create a unique vocabulary that camels seem to understand and adhere to.
According to a Saudi Press Agency report published June 29, herders use the Alheda’a to guide their camels through the desert, finding pastures for grazing and preparing them for watering, milking and riding. It also allows them to quickly gather the herd in the event of a sandstorm.
Historical accounts credit Mudar bin Nizar with the invention of Alheda’a. After falling off the camel, he kept shouting “Waidah! Waidah!” (Oh, my hand!). The camels began to move, thus beginning the tradition of using vocal cues to direct the camels.
Early Alheda’a imitated the natural sounds of camels – shepherds urged their animals with sounds such as “Heh”, “Doh” and “Dah”. These vocalizations, along with Rajaz (short, improvised poems), are still used today, but their use varies depending on the environment.
Over time, Alheda’a evolved into a more poetic art form, with distinct styles and vocabulary. She incorporated deeper meanings, sung lines, and balanced rhythms.
Saudi folklore scholar Ibrahim Al-Khaldi told SPA that the Alheda’a was “essential” for nomadic caravans. Typically, two people would recite simple, rhyming verses in unison, helping to encourage camels to fetch water from wells. For larger water-harvesting tasks, where gathering distant camels was essential, the Alheda’a could be recited by up to four people. Their voices, carried in the silence of the desert night or dawn, traveled great distances.
The president of the Saudi Society for Camel Studies, Dr. Mohammed Al-Otaibi, told SPA that Alheda’a existed in pre-Islamic times. Short, powerful songs helped gather camels, direct their movements and guide them back to their resting places.
In 2022, Alheda’a was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Various songs are sung within it – in honor of setting out, traveling, watering, collecting and drawing water from the well.
Camels hold a unique place in Arab society. Recognizing this rich cultural heritage, the Camel Club was founded in Saudi Arabia under the directives of King Salman in 2017.
The Ministry of Culture even declared 2024 the “Year of the Camel” in honour of the animal seen as a cultural treasure, a pillar of national identity and a valuable element of Arab heritage.