Alwan al Showaya

Alwan al Showaya (Arabic: علوان الشویع) was a singer from al-Ahwaz, Iran. He was the inventor of the Arabic singing style “ʿAlwānī”, a term derived from his name. Alwan's music used the rabab, a traditional instrument of Khuzestan.

Alwan was born in an Arabian village in Khuzestan, and during his adolescence he was deeply interested in tragic voices. Initially he constructed a rabab out of an empty drum of oil and a few horse hairs, then used this instrument to accompany his singing. In his adulthood he moved to the nearby city of Ahwaz with his wife and daughter Shahla.

In most of his songs, Alwan made use of epic or ethical poems, and he sang poems written by historical or contemporary poets, as well he recited the names of the poets as he was singing the poems. His songs predominately encouraged the people to display virtues such as courage, generosity, patience. Other themes include forgiveness, as well as to care for relatives, fight injustice, and help the poor.

Alwan's style of music was adopted by many other artists as well as becoming popular with the general public, eventually the style was coined 'ʿAlwānī after its founder.

During the time of Sheikh Khazal, Arabic music in Khuzestan, thrived and became widespread. As well as local Arab musicians, Khazal invited performers to his palaces from other Arabic countries such as Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt. During the Pahlavi era, Arabic music stagnated. In the 1960s, the musician Alwan abo-Shahla appeared in Ahwaz, performing the singing and poetry of Khuzestan. Hassaan Algezar, in the city of Shush, Iran, sang with this style. Alkhashabeh bands also helped to promote it.

Today ʿAlwānī refers to a type of folk music with sad, melancholy, and peaceful themes which is played only with the rabab. This style is considered a public art of the Arabic people of Iran, additionally Although it originated in Khuzestan, ʿAlwānī style has spread to Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait. ʿAlwānī style is similar to the “Amiri” vocal style of Mazandaran, and It is placed in the division of music known as "rīfīy".

Musicians in Aleppo (18th century)