"Ho Jamalo" is a Sindhi-language folk song and associated dance in the

Sindhi culture The Culture of Sindh () has its roots in the Indus Valley civilization. Sindh has been shaped by the largely desert region, the natural resources it has available, and continuous foreign influence. The Indus or Sindhu River, which passes throug ...

. The performance is about the local folk hero Jamalo. It is sung in chorus to the rhythm created by the clapping of the hands apart from musical instruments. Its composition is simple and is intelligible to every Sindhi. The word 'Jamalo' is derived from the Arabic word ''Jamal'' which means ''beauty''. The dance is performed as part of a victory or celebration. Though it originated in

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

, it is popular throughout

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

as well as the

Sindhi Hindus Sindhi Hindus are ethnic Sindhis who practice Hinduism and are native to the Sindh region of the Indian subcontinent. They are spread across modern-day Sindh, Pakistan and India. After the partition of India in 1947, many Sindhi Hindus were am ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. A Punjabi rendition of the song was performed by

Ali Sethi Ali Aziz Sethi (Urdu/; ; born July 2, 1984) is a Pakistani-American singer, songwriter, composer, and author. Born to journalists and politicians Najam Sethi and Jugnu Mohsin, Sethi rose to prominence with his debut novel, '' The Wish Maker'' ( ...

and

Humaira Arshad Humaira Arshad or Humera Arshad ( Punjabi, ) is a Pakistani pop singer from Lahore born in 1975. Career She started her career as an actress in PTV Home's television series Ainak Wala Jin (a PTV show for children in the 1990s) where she played ...

in season 11 of ''

Coke Studio Pakistan ''Coke Studio Pakistan'' () is a Pakistani television programme and a part of the international music franchise, Coke Studio, which features studio-recorded music performances by established and emerging artists. It is the longest-running annua ...

''.

History of Ho Jamalo

There are several versions of the history of Ho Jamalo. According to one origin story, during British colonial rule, Jamalo Sheedi, a death-row prisoner in Sukkur, volunteered to test-drive a train across the newly constructed Sukkur Bridge (Lansdowne Bridge) in exchange for his freedom. His successful crossing led to his pardon, and in jubilation, his relatives composed the song with the refrain "Ho Jamalo, Wah Wah Jamalo." Another story goes that a fierce battle was fought somewhere in upper Sindh and the dwellers of the area were facing extreme challenges against the invaders. At this juncture, a man named Jamal, who was very brave and courageous, led a small army to fight against the invaders. There was a fierce and bloody encounter and he emerged victorious. When he came home within sight of their settlement, the women of the area came out singing: ‘Ho Jamalo, khati aayo khair saan.’ Translation: Oh great Jamalo, you have come victorious without facing any loss.

References

Sindhi dance Sindhi music Sindhi folklore British East India Company Songs in Sindhi Ali Sethi songs {{India-hist-stub

History of Ho Jamalo

See also

References