Saleem Al Wafi Al Jabbouri

Jalset Samar

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Despite being released in the early 2000s, this live cassette by Salim Al Wafi retains the same rough recording quality that defined tapes from the 1980s and early 1990s. It also preserves their acoustic arrangement, free of keyboards and led by the rababa, making it feel like a deliberate attempt to hold onto traditional Syrian shaabi music in the face of the electronic sounds and influences that swept through the early 21st century. A native of Hassake, Salim Al Wafi comes from the Jabbouri family — a lineage with deep roots in rababa music, abudhiya, and souaihly traditions in the Jazeera region. After the outbreak of the war in Syria, he relocated to Turkey, where he continues to record and perform. Today, tens of thousands of listeners follow his work across various channels and platforms.