Mwueley

The first mweley I saw was with my Aunt Qutna. She lifted her scarf into the air and began singing to the breeze. She started:

والله لقب القنعة واطلق وراها مويلي
عامر يا أبو باروده وسط النخل متدلي

 By God, the veil was lifted, and behind it echoed my Mweley
Amer, O son of gunpowder, hanging among the palm trees

لما عيني تشوفه كل الهموم تولي
يوم اللي هرابة الميه

 When my eyes see him, all my sorrows vanish
On the day the water flows flee

ياباي بلول الريق
وظعيني إن غرب غرب

 Oh father, they moisten the thirst
And if he turns west, set my eyes with him

معه سنيد روحي
غابت علي الشمس

 With him goes the twin of my soul
The sun disappeared on me

وأنا وراء الغطاسة
And I followed behind the diver

My Aunt Qutna, along with other Bedouin women, would sing mweley songs to give themselves company while grazing animals alone in the open lands. These songs, echoing longing and place, were a form of resilience and presence.

The exhibition we held in Al-Araqib was named Mweley—we designed an installation for each home that had been demolished by Israel in the village. Al-Araqib has been destroyed over 200 times.

Each family referred to the installation as their home, speaking of the life they used to have—and still carry within it.