The Art of Al Qasafiya

It is a fast-paced razha with which the great Razha gathering begins, performed by the clan's young men in preparation for the elders' Razha. The Qasafiya is regarded as the school in which the young men train — through practising it — for the longer art of the Razha. Its rhythm is simple and its verse of a short metre, usually in description or chaste (innocent) love poetry. However, the elders may take part in the "Qasafiya" with verses of praise, satire or war. The Qasafiya usually does not take a long time, so that the arena is left clear for the elders' Razha.