Omani-Zanzibari dance enthrals Muscat Festival visitors

Muscat: A traditional Omani dance, performed by Omanis with roots in Zanzibar, attracted a lot of attention at Muscat Festival's Al Amerat Park venue.
Both men and women in traditional clothing took part in the dance. The women were dressed in colourful traditional attire for the event.
The men played their tablas and a bagpipe, which, according to Ahmad Al Salti, one of the dancers, are of three types: Rahmani, Qasir and Maqsir.
Al Salti told the Times of Oman that singing was a time honoured Arabic as well as Swahili tradition and reflected the cultural interaction between Oman and Zanzibar. He explained that the clothing of the dancers is influenced by Oman’s historic relations with Zanzibar.
The group came from Sur, he said, where a significant part of the population speaks Swahili, in addition to Arabic.
The dance, called Al Buzlaf, is usually performed on the national day, official events, festivities and weddings, Al Salti explained.
Al Salti further said harmony is customary in this type of dance, going with the flow of the music.
“I feel very proud when we have the chance to perform here,” he said.