Before the emergence of musical instruments, humans clapped their hands to define and create the rhythm of music. Actually, hand clapping was an art of its own. Dating back to the days of the pharaohs, the art of kaff — Arabic for palm clapping — flourished in the Arabian Peninsula. Improvisational poetry is considered part and parcel of this art. With an ingrained love for kaff, coupled with a genuine passion to revive and preserve it, the band Kafafa (Hand Clappers) formed in 2013 to bring the folk art of kaff back on the scene. Kafafa is Egypt's first band to perform and resurrect kaff.
At Kafafa's shows, the audience can see how the ancient mingles with the modern, how creative poetry is improvised on stage and how hand clapping harmonizes with the rhythm and the choreographed steps. The band's distinct performances have earned it a solid fanbase. By interviewing Kafafa members, Al-Monitor sought to investigate the origins and the rules of kaff.
