02/04/2024
Zaid Hilal - Abu Samra أبو سمرة حبة القمح
6 Jul 2020 #القمح
Vivien Sansour- Palestine Heirloom Seed Library quotes: “Abu Samra is an ancient heirloom wheat that can tolerate a lot of thirst. A Palestinian Baali crop that is planted in November in this semi-desert area and we harvest it in May while green to make hearty Freekeh. Abu Samra seeds have been treasured and passed down for centuries, but in more recent times have been lost, and forgotten. When people remember this delicious grain they refer to it as the long lost love or Abu Samra- Arabic for dark and handsome! The danger is that we are becoming consumers not producers; you don’t have to use your imagination, you don’t have to think, just buy and follow the instructions. The adoption of agribusiness practices is poisoning our soil, our health, and transforming our agricultural practice that sun, rain, and soil based to that of the greenhouse, plastic, and chemical one causing the disappearance of these varieties. “These heirloom varieties represent our cultural identity, who we are is living in the DNA of these seeds. We have a saying in Palestine ‘She who eats from her own tools thinks with her own mind’, which means if you are in control of the source of your food then you are in control of your own destiny. These seeds carry the ability for us to be autonomous” Credits: Singing, Baglama: Zaid Hilal Lyrics by: Elias Jeries, Hind and Zaid Hilal Faris Ishaq: Nai Phillipe Jarad: Electric Guitar Usama Allati: fretless Bass Pierre Tawil: Drums John Handal: E- Piano David Mowat: Trumpets Sophie Wilsdon: Clarinet Choir: Elissa Rishmawi and Vicky Bergman Music Arrangement: Zaid Hilal Mixing and mastering: RJ Music Studios (John Handal) Photo artwork design: Hind Hilal Many thanks to: Mark Sumulian ( Studio Recording in England) Vivien Sansour Izz - Alden Saed