12th-century Arabic poetic duelling (Zajal) resurgent on TikTok: revival of Andalusian oral tradition reveals cultural resilience amid algorithmic commodification
Original framing: “Zajal – this form of Arabic poetic duelling has broken onto TikTok” — The Conversation - Global
The original framing omits the historical context of Zajal’s origins in Al-Andalus (Islamic Iberia), where it flourished as a cross-cultural art form blending Arabic, Berber, and Iberian traditions. It also ignores the role of colonialism in suppressing such traditions, as well as the contemporary marginalization of Arab and Muslim artists in global cultural industries. Indigenous knowledge systems, such as the oral transmission methods of Zajal, are reduced to mere 'content' without acknowledgment of their epistemological value.
Medium structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
The narrative is produced by Western-centric media outlets like *The Conversation*, which frame non-Western traditions through a lens of novelty and exoticism to appeal to global audiences. The framing serves the interests of platform capitalism (TikTok, Meta) by framing cultural heritage as consumable content, while obscuring the extractive dynamics of digital colonialism. It also centers academic voices over living practitioners, reinforcing a hierarchy where Western scholars interpret non-Western traditions for consumption.
Zajal emerged in 12th-century Al-Andalus as a fusion of Arabic, Berber, and Iberian poetic forms, flourishing under Muslim rule before being suppressed during the Reconquista. Its revival in the 20th century by Lebanese poet Said Akl and others was tied to nationalist movements, showing how poetry becomes a tool for identity and resistance. The current TikTok trend mirrors earlier cycles of cultural appropriation, such as flamenco’s global commodification, where marginalized traditions are repackaged for mass consumption. Historical parallels reveal a pattern of cultural extraction tied to empire and capitalism.
Zajal’s journey from 12th-century Al-Andalus to TikTok encapsulates the tension between cultural resilience and algorithmic commodification, revealing how oral traditions navigate the pressures of empire, nationalism, and now digital capitalism.