Palestinian Hikaye
In short: A Palestinian oral storytelling tradition practised by women, in which voice and rhythm are important.
Term
How does it work in the tale?
In the Gaza telling of Clever Hasan, the audience has a line before the story proper begins. I’m Black Horse. Read the opening together, one as the teller and one as the audience. How does the reply change the rhythm?
Who listens to Hikaye at home?
UNESCO describes small groups of women and children gathering at home on winter evenings. That setting makes it easier to imagine the teller’s voice, emphasis and pauses. A full stop on a printed page marks the end of a sentence. In a room, a pause also gives the teller a chance to hear how the listeners respond.