Launched in 2020 by two musicians and producers – Yamed Mekdad and Mark Gergis – with the goal of preserving, documenting, and promoting Syrian musical heritage, the Syrian Cassette Archives project is now focused on the zajal genre.
A traditional musical form from the southern mountains of Syria, zajal is often performed at weddings and features a dialogue between two lovers. This musical tradition is currently at risk of disappearing due to lack of practice and archives. In recent months, Syrian Cassette Archives has uncovered exclusive audio recordings of zajal from the 1970s to 2000s.
Gergis recounts how he scoured markets, music shops, and souks in Syria. In 2020, Gergis and Mekdad had only 600 zajal cassettes. They now own nearly 2,000, allowing them to truly understand and analyze the evolution of zajal in Syria.
Grants from institutions like the British Council have helped the project take on a more permanent role. Mekdad and Gergis work with researchers to locate and interview musicians who were recorded and have organized technical workshops in Amman. They’ve also established digitization centers in Aleppo and Damascus to preserve and share this restored musical heritage more easily.