The Master of Zajal
شيخ الكار
Lebanese Poetry : Book No. 6
Author : Mansour Chahine El-Ghorayeb
Study and Presentation: Joseph Abi Daher
Year : 2010
ISBN: 978-9953-491-90-5
Mansour Chahine el-Ghourayyeb was the most distinguished kawwal (performer) in the second half of the 19th century, and for this he was known as “Cheikh El Kar” which means the master of his field. He improvised, sang, wrote, conversed with his peers and became famous in all countries where this art was practiced (Mouaanna). He was known for his timeliness, euphony and the beauty of his poems, all of which enabled him to be at the forefront. However, he decided to stay away and devote his time to writing long poems (among which is a long poem of 182 verses) and to correspondence which he enriched with his writing and passed on to the next generations. After his death, a collection of his zajal poems was published in a book which was issued in three editions.