Ayoub Tarish Absi is considered to be the leading singer of the country, and one of the most important pillars of the Yemeni songs in the modern age. His contribution has been, after all, quite outstanding.

When he was a child, he went with his father to Aden, then a British colony. There he started learning the holy Quran at the hands of the great Yemeni scholar Sheikh Al-Baihani, who was very much impressed by the melodious voice of the young Ayoub, who was asked to recite many verses from the Quran. But, little did Sheikh Baihani - and Ayoub's father for that matter, that the young lad had a secret hobby.

Due to his artistic inclination, Ayoub used to listen to songs secretly. He used to sing along with Om Kalthum, dubbed by Mohammed Abdul Wahab as the 'Star of the Orient'.
But the boy's infatuation with songs was not to remain a secret for long. Hearing Ayoub sing on a tape recorder, Sheikh Al-Baihani felt unhappy and disappointed. One of the boy's jealous friend had taped the singing boy and presented the cassette tape to the teacher.
Sheikh Baihani said that he expected Ayoub to become a great reciter of the holy Quran, but that the boy had sold out to the 'devil' by turning to singing.

That was the end of his association with Sheikh Baihani, and it was also the end of his stay in Aden. The father decided to send the boy back home to Al-A'abous in Hugarriah, Taiz Governorate. There was a silver lining to this move, which at the surface looks like a setback.
Back at home, Ayoub started singing some rural songs composed by his brother Mohammed Tarish who was a farmer-poet. The move also freed the aspiring singer from looking above his shoulders.

Ayoub's glory days in the world of art sparkled when he came to know the late Abdullah Abdul Wahab Noman, one of the pioneer composers and poets of Yemeni songs. They started working together, one writes the songs, and the other sets them to singing. In this way, they complemented each other.

In fact, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Maqalih, a famous Yemeni poet, once said that we couldn't talk about one without referring to the other, as they became like twins.
Yemen's September and October Revolutions, the unification of the nation, and other crucial political issues were given top priority in the work of the two talented persons. The poet wrote, and the singer produced the rythm and songs. For those who may not know, this couple produced the national anthem of Yemen.

Yes, this mutual company and close relationship resulted in the production of a series of songs, we now refer to as the memorial and monumental songs of Ayoub.
Ayoub sang national patriotic songs for the revolution. He sang many love songs - romance was a big part of his music. He sang for social occasions such as weddings, reunions, etc.

Then, in his old age - and over the last few years, in a fateful twist of events, Ayoub began turning to religious songs. His last cassette tape is full of wonderful hymns glorifying the Lord. Sheikh Baihani, long dead, would have loved this recent development.

Today, however, Ayoub, 57, suffers from a bad health. "My shoulder aches quickly, I can no longer play the ood for an extended period of time," he complains. He also has a repeat attack of malaria, something of which nearly a million Yemenis suffer.

But, the real problem his feeling of being neglected. The authorities have yet to honor him with any meaningful award. A government which has ben more than generous with medal and decorations given to undeserving persons, Ayoub has yet to stake his claim. Thus, the old singer comes down with a constant seizure of the "blues" .
It surely feels sad when you see a person who spent most of his life entertaining Yemenis, and bringing happiness to their lives, now being ignored and left to loneliness and depression.
My feeling is that the authorities will honor this man once he dies - posthumously, as they say. But I say, "Why wait. Do it now."

By: Mohammed Al-Qadhi,
Taiz Office Editor,
Yemen Times.