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Yemen: Chewing qat


Listen to: Yemeni Musicians


We travelled to Yemen to see how a modern liberated woman copes in an ancient Muslim culture.

 

Outside the biblical city of Sana'a we shared Yemeni food, hospitality and the inevitable "qat", a leaf which, when chewed, provides a mild narcotic effect. Or so they say. For us it was more like a visit to the dentist.

 


We are introduced to a unique Yemeni instrument - a double-reeded device which sounds more like a distorted electric guitar.