These clubs have a strong participation of women convinced of the psychological and physical benefits of self-entertainment through singing, in addition to the contribution of periodic meetings between them in the creation of new friendships for them outside of work and life. family environment.
A refuge from stress and loneliness
Hanan, 42, a housewife, says she joined a singing club months ago as an activity that could help her out of a state of depression that has plagued her due to the pressures of life. the atmosphere of the club and finds in the weekly singing appointment an outlet for her, new friends, and the time which is allotted to her. Alone, far from her numerous family responsibilities.
As for Amal (55), she is about to retire from her job as a supervisor of shows. Boredom and loneliness after her children left to work abroad led her to seek an outlet for entertainment, and she found what she needed at a singing club, where she says, “I heard about these clubs on social media and when I first wore them three years ago , they have become my go-to every weekend and the women in the collection have become my friends and sisters.”
In turn, Sumaya (62), a retired educator, considers collective singing and musical activity to be part of her treatment journey for anxiety disorders, as her psychiatrist advised her to participate in social activities and to filling his free time after the Entertainment retreat and successfully fitting in and making friends with women of different ages.
Music therapy
Rahma Ben Afana, the founder of the “Haya” club, the oldest women’s singing club in Tunisia, told us that she loved music and played the oud and the violin in her youth, but that her family l pushed towards another professional specialization. work in the direction of a company.
She added: “But I was like every woman who goes to the group singing club today. I feel pressured and suffer from routine. So I started studying music and singing and then I formed a group of friends to train in group singing. I first reached 250 women, then it grew with “Hey Club” to 1,500 participants.” We train intensively and present performances in Tunisia, Europe, Canada and Algeria, and we have an audience that demands our performances. ”
Concerning the conditions of joining the club, Rahma explains: “It is not important that the woman has a beautiful voice, it is enough that she likes singing and music. We provide them with music teacher training to perform Tunisian and Oriental songs, and during the performances we select the distinctive voices to lead the singing group.”
Rahma bin Afana confirms that the club includes women of different age groups and various social groups, whose lives have changed from routine and loneliness to a world full of music and friends. All this outreach and what appeals to me most are the stories of women who have been healed by song and music from mental illnesses, or who have overcome the weight of malignant diseases and resisted them with courage and hope, or who left loneliness after a separation, or the journey and marriage of their children.
For her part, Iman Al-Ajili, organist and owner of the “Lallah” singing club in a popular district of the capital, confirmed that many women have managed to better manage their lives and overcome pressures after joining clubs. collective singing.
The music teacher considers the primary purpose of the club to be self-expression and recreational activity, regardless of the vocal abilities that are also developed through training. The study of singing is a personal space for women, who brought them a lot morally.
Mrs. Najwa Al-Zraibi, housewife and owner of the club “Sout Carthage”, agrees with her colleagues on the importance of collective singing to change the psyche of women for the better. And it created new friendships for the women who fled to sing. from boredom, loneliness and the pressures of life, which prompted a number of doctors to steer women towards such recreational activities.
reserved for women
Tunisian law, which regulates cultural and recreational activities, allows the creation of special cultural centers to teach singing, theatrical arts, dance, etc. And they share trips.
The activities of some singing clubs have turned into parties, weddings and performances, and their collective videos have been admired, followed and millions of views, as well as encouraged by a number of artists and stars.
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