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2025-06-10T12:49:45Z

Disambiguating links to Luo (link changed to Luo languages) using DisamAssist.

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{{short description|Long vocal sound resembling a howl}}
'''Ululation''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-ululation.ogg|ˌ|j|uː|lj|ʊ|ˈ|l|eɪ|ʃ|ən|,_|ˌ|ʌ|l|-}},{{refn|{{MerriamWebsterDictionary|access-date=2016-01-22|Ululation}}}}{{refn|{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Ululation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322185827/https://www.lexico.com/definition/ululation |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Ululation |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}} }} {{ety|la|{{wikt-lang|la|ululo}}}}), '''trilling''' or '''lele''', is a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound resembling a [[Howl (sound)|howl]] with a [[Trill (music)|trill]]ing quality. It is produced by emitting a high pitched loud voice accompanied with a rapid back and forth movement of the [[tongue]] and the [[uvula]].<ref name=pandle/>

==Around the world==

[[File:Ululation.ogg|thumb|300px|An Egyptian woman ululates after having cast her vote in the [[w:Egyptian presidential election, 2014|2014 Egyptian presidential elections]].]]

Ululation is practiced either alone or as part of certain styles of singing, on various occasions of communal ritual events (like weddings) used to express strong emotion.

Ululation is practised in all parts of [[Africa]], the [[Middle East]], [[Americas]] and as far east as [[Central Asia|Central]] and [[South Asia]]. It is also practiced in a few places in Europe among the diaspora community originating from these areas.

===Middle East===
Ululation is commonly used in Middle Eastern weddings. In the [[Arab world]], ''zaghārīt'' (Arabic: زغاريت) is a ululation performed to honor someone. For example, zagharits are widely performed and documented in Egyptian movies featuring traditional Egyptian weddings, where women are known for their very long and very loud performed ululations. Another example of the incorporation of ululations into traditional wedding songs can be found in ''Zaghareed'' (also spelled ''zaghareet''), a collection of traditional Palestinian wedding songs reinterpreted and rearranged by [[Mohsen Subhi]] and produced in 1997 by the Palestinian National Music and Dance Troupe ''El-Funoun''.<ref>{{cite web | title = ''Zaghareed'' | year = 1997 | url = http://www.el-funoun.org/productions/zaghared.html |access-date=2009-01-05 | work = El Funoun website| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090105201604/http://www.el-funoun.org/productions/zaghared.html | archive-date = 2009-01-05 }}</ref>
Ululations are a part of [[Kurds|Kurdish]] culture. They are commonly heard during henna nights, weddings and [[Newroz]] as it's a display of celebration.
Ululation also occurs among [[Mizrahi Jews]] during ''[[simcha]]'' (festive occasions) such as at the [[inauguration of a Torah scroll]] (''hachnasat sefer Torah''), ''[[brit milah]]'' (circumcision),<ref>{{cite book | last = Heber | first = Levi Y. | title = Additional Sephardic Circumcision Customs: The customs of Sephardim and Oriental Jews at a Brit Milah | url = http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144126/jewish/Additional-Sephardic-Circumcision-Customs.htm | work = The Handbook to Circumcision | publisher = Brit Milah}}</ref> communal celebrations, [[Jewish wedding|weddings]],<ref name="Stillman">{{cite book | last1 = Stillman | first1 = Yedida Kalfon| last2 =Zucker | first2 = George K. | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=onyvVGtBjDgC&pg=PA298 | title = New horizons in Sephardic Studies| page = 298| isbn = 9780791414019| date = January 1993| publisher = SUNY Press}}</ref><ref>See [[Sephardic Music]] section on History</ref> ''[[bar miswa|bar mitzvah]]''<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Everson | first1 = Eva Marie | last2 = Vamosh | first2 = Mirian Feinberg | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=065owD0uIjMC&pg=PA242 | title = Reflections of God's Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel | page = 242 | isbn = 9781418577612 | date = 2008-08-31 | publisher = Thomas Nelson }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> celebrations, and most of all at ''[[Henna#Regions|henna]]'' celebrations.<ref>{{cite web| last = Samin | first = Lisa | url = http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/3469/moroccan-nuptials-combine-ancient-rituals-festivities | work = JWeekly.com | title = Moroccan nuptials combine ancient rituals, festivities | publisher = World Zionist Press Service| date = 1996-06-14 }}</ref> Recordings of various styles of ululations are commonly found in the music of artists performing [[Mizrahi music|Mizrahi]] styles of music.

===Africa and Asia===
In Ethiopia and Eritrea, ululation (called ''ililta'') is part of a Christian religious ritual performed by worshipers as a feature of Sunday or other services in the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]],<ref>{{cite journal|title=Review: Ethiopian Christian Liturgical Chant|journal=Journal of Religion in Africa}}</ref> [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church]], and some [[P'ent'ay|Ethiopian Evangelical Churches]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Persoon |first=Joachim |date=2010 |title=The Planting of the <i>Tabot</i> on European Soil: The Trajectory of Ethiopian Orthodox Involvement with the European Continent |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3366/swc.2010.0107 |journal=Studies in World Christianity |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=320–340 |doi=10.3366/swc.2010.0107 |issn=1354-9901 |via=Edinburgh University Press Journals|url-access=subscription }}</ref> ''lIilta'' is also used in [[Music of Eritrea|Eritrean]] and [[Music of Ethiopia|Ethiopian music]]. In [[Somali language|Somali]], ululation is known as ''Alalaas'', and is widely used in music. In [[Hausa language|Hausa]] it is known as ''guda'', in [[Zulu language|Zulu]] ''lilizela, in ukuyiyizela,'',in Xhosa ukuyiyizela, in Tsonga ''nkulungwani'' and in Northern SiNdebele ''ukubulula''. Ululation is incorporated into [[African music]]al styles such as Tshangani music, where it is a form of audience participation, along with clapping and [[call-and-response]].

In Tanzania ululation is a celebratory cheer sound when good news has been shared or during weddings, welcoming of a newborn home, graduations and other festivals even in church when sermons are going on. In [[Swahili language|Swahili]] it is known as ''vigelegele'' and in [[Luo languages|Luo]] it is known as ''udhalili''. Generally women exuberantly yell ''lililili'' in a high-pitched voices. Girls are usually proud of being able to ululate like their mothers and aunts.

[[File:Durga Korravai.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|In Dravidian tradition, ululation as a war cry or a call to victory is dedicated to [[Korravai]], The Goddess of War and Victory.]]

Ululation is also widely practiced in the eastern parts of [[India]], where it is also known as [[Ululudhvani]]. People, especially women roll their tongues and produce this sound during all [[Hinduism|Hindu]] temple rituals, festivals and celebrations. This is also an integral part of most weddings in these parts where, depending upon the local usages, women ululate to welcome the groom or bride or both. [[Bengali people|Bengalis]] call it ''ulu-dhwani'' and they use this during weddings and other festivals. [[Odia people|Odias]] call it ''Hulahuli'' or ''Huluhuli''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110416/jsp/orissa/story_13858970.jsp |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150707000333/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110416/jsp/orissa/story_13858970.jsp |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 7, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Orissa |title=Lost customs return to Bhubaneswar |year=2012 |quote=hulahuli — the typical sound made in chorus by women during religious ceremonies |access-date=2012-06-16}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.orissa-tourism.com/relfes.htm |title=FAIRS & FESTIVALS :: RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS |work=Orissa-Tourism.com |year=2006 |quote=Hulahuli' (a shrill sound made by wagging the tongue inside the mouth) |access-date=2012-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220035109/http://www.orissa-tourism.com/relfes.htm|archive-date=2010-12-20}}</ref> In [[Odisha]], ululation is used to cheer during weddings, cultural gatherings and celebrations.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} [[Assamese people|Assamese]] call it ''uruli''. In [[Tamil language|Tamil]], it is known as ''kulavai'' (Tamil:குளவை). In [[Kerala]], ululation is essential for all ceremonial occasions and the term used in [[Malayalam]] is ''kurava'' (Malayalam:കൊരവ). For the native people of [[Kashmir conflict|Kashmir]]; it is commonly practised and called ''Zagruta.'' It is mostly practised during weddings, a wedding lead up, or other occasion such as birthdays or upon hearing good news.

[[File:Irrintzi en el aire.jpg|thumb|Sculpture "Irrintzi in the air" by [[Mikel Varas]].|alt=A curling metal tube.]]

Ululation is rooted in the culture of North Africa, Northern parts of [[West Africa]] and [[Eastern Africa]] as well as [[Southern Africa]] and is widely practiced in [[Tanzania]], [[Kenya]], [[Angola]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Botswana]], [[Lesotho]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Namibia]], [[South Africa]], [[Eswatini]], [[Ethiopia]]-[[Eritrea]], [[Somalia]], [[Uganda]], [[Zambia]], and [[Zimbabwe]]. It is used by women to give praises at weddings and all other celebrations.<ref>{{Citation |last=Meintjes |first=Louise |title=Ululation |date=2019 |work=Remapping Sound Studies |pages=61–76 |editor-last=Steingo |editor-first=Gavin |url=http://read.dukeupress.edu/books/book/2559/chapter/1361060/Ululation |access-date=2024-11-03 |publisher=Duke University Press |language=en |doi=10.1215/9781478002192-004 |isbn=978-1-4780-0219-2 |editor2-last=Sykes |editor2-first=Jim|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It is a general sound of good cheer and celebration, when good news has been delivered in a place of gathering, even in church. It is also an integral part of most African weddings where women gather around the bride and groom, dancing and ululating exuberantly. During graduation ceremonies ululation shows pride and joy in scholastic achievement. The women ululating usually stand and make their way to the front to dance and ululate around the graduate.

===Europe===
Ululation is used to some extent by south European women.<ref name=pandle>{{Cite book | last= Pendle | first=Karin | title=Women & music: a history | year=2001 | publisher=Indiana University Press | location=Bloomington | isbn=0-253-21422-X }}</ref> The [[Basque people|Basque]] {{lang|eu|irrintzi}} is a signal of happiness originating from shepherds.<ref name="Trask">{{Cite web | last= Trask | first = Larry Trask | author-link = Larry Trask | url = http://www.buber.net/Basque/Euskara/Larry/WebSite/basque.words.html | title = Some Important Basque Words (And a Bit of Culture)}}</ref><ref name="Auñamendi">{{Cite encyclopedia | url = http://euskomedia.org/aunamendi/76986 | title = Irrintzi | language = es | encyclopedia = Auñamendi Encyclopedia}}</ref>
It has been proposed as a technique for vocal rehabilitation.<ref name="Martínez-Arellano">{{cite book |last1=Martínez-Arellano |first1=Ana |title=Bases fisiológicas y caracterización acústica del Irrintzi |date=8 July 2021 |publisher=Universidad de Navarra |location=Pamplona |url=https://dadun.unav.edu/handle/10171/61076 |access-date=3 October 2021 |language=es |quote=Esta técnica se puede utilizar para trabajar el volumen alto en pacientes con disfonía y para mejorar el rendimiento vocal y la eficiencia de la voz en personas que utilizan la a volumen alto o en frecuencias elevadas.}}</ref> The [[Galician people|Galician]] {{lang|gl|aturuxo}} is performed with accompanied vocalization from the throat.
=== Americas ===
It is also practiced by some [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes. In the [[Lakota people|Lakota tribe]], women yell "lililili" in a high-pitched voice to praise warriors for acts of valor.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bullerman|first1=Mathias|title=SAIVUS - Lakota Language Tutorial - Lesson One - Wóuŋspe Tȟokáhe|url=http://sioux.saivus.org/index.html|website=sioux.saivus.org|publisher=SAIVUS|access-date=2017-02-09}}</ref> The [[Apache|Apaches]] also practice ululation, as do the [[Cherokee]], as war cries.

==In ancient times==
In [[Ancient Egypt]], reference to ululation appears on the inscription of the [[pyramid texts]] of [[Unas]], on the West Wall of the Corridor (section XIII),<ref>{{Cite web | last = van den Dungen | first = Wim | url = http://www.sofiatopia.org/maat/wenis13.htm | title = The Pyramid Texts of UNAS}}</ref> and of [[Pepi I]], in the Spells for Entering the [[Akhet (hieroglyph and season)|Akhet]].<ref>{{Cite book | last1= Allen | first1 = James P. | last2 = Manuelian| first2 = Peter Der | title = The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts}}</ref> In ancient Greece ululation or ({{langx|el|ὀλολυγή | ololuge}}) was normally used as a joyful expression<ref name=laura/> to celebrate good news<ref name=allan>{{Cite book |author1=Allan, William |author2=Altena, Hermann |author3=Michael, Jr Perna |author4=Gregory, Justina | title=A Companion to Greek Tragedy (Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World) | date= 2005-09-16| publisher=[[Blackwell Publishing Limited]] | isbn=1-4051-0770-7 }}</ref> or when an animal's throat is cut during sacrifice.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Goff | first=Barbara E. | title=Citizen Bacchae: women's ritual practice in ancient Greece | year=2004 | publisher=University of California Press | location=Berkeley | isbn=0-520-23998-9 }}</ref> However, in [[Aeschylus]]' ''[[Oresteia|Agamemnon]]'', along with being an expression of joy, it is also used for fury,<ref name=allan/> and in [[Sophocles]]' ''[[Electra (Sophocles play)|Electra]]'' it is employed as an expression of grief.<ref name=laura>{{Cite book | last= McClure | first=Laura | title=Spoken like a woman: speech and gender in Athenian drama | year=1999 | publisher=Princeton University Press | location=Princeton, N.J. | isbn=0-691-01730-1 }}</ref> As in many cultures, use depended on context, as ululated exclamations could appear in different circumstances as a cry of lament or as a [[Battle cry|battle-cry]].<ref name=wiktionary>[[Wiktionary:ἐλελεῦ]]</ref>

Homer mentions ololuge (ululation) in his works,<ref>{{Cite book | last=Stein| first=Charles | title=The Odyssey | year=2008| publisher=North Atlantic Books | isbn=978-1-55643-728-1 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | last=Camps | first=W. A. | author-link=W. A. Camps | title=An introduction to Homer | year=1980 | publisher=Clarendon Press | location=Oxford | isbn=0-19-872101-3 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/introductiontoho0000camp }}</ref> as does [[Herodotus]], citing ululation in North Africa – where it is still practiced – saying: <blockquote>I think for my part that the loud cries uttered in our sacred rites came also from thence; for the Libyan women are greatly given to such cries and utter them very sweetly.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/herod-libya1.html |title=On Libya, from The Histories, c. 430 BCE |volume=IV |pages=42–43}}</ref></blockquote>

Or in another translation: <blockquote>I also think that the ''ololuge'' or cry of praise emitted during the worship of Athena started in Libya, because it is often employed by Libyan women, who do it extremely well.<ref>{{Cite book | author1=Waterfield, Robin | author2=Dewald, Carolyn | title=The histories | year=1998 | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | location=Oxford [England] | isbn=0-19-282425-2 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/histories0000hero }}</ref><ref>For the ancient Greeks, [[Ancient Libya|Libya]] denoted a much larger expanse than present-day [[Libya]].</ref></blockquote>

The Hebrew word [[Hallelujah]], translated as a call to "praise the Lord", contains the [[Semitic root|root]] H-L-L, with meanings related to "praise". This root may have originally been an onomatopoeic imitation of ululation performed in [[Israelite]] rituals.<ref>{{Cite book | author=Zevit, Ziony | title=The First Halleluyah | work=Milk and Honey: Essays on Ancient Israel and the Bible in Appreciation of the Judaic Studies Program at the University of California, San Diego | year=2007 | publisher=[[Eisenbrauns]] | isbn=9781575061276 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BW4wUQSxnjQC&pg=PA164 | page=164 }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
At the [[Super Bowl LIV halftime show|2020 Super Bowl LIV halftime show]], [[Colombia|Colombian]] singer [[Shakira]], whose father is [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]], ululated at the camera during her performance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schoenberg |first=Nara |date=3 February 2020 |title=That tongue-trilling sound that Shakira made at the Super Bowl? That was a zaghrouta, the traditional Middle Eastern expression of joy |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-shakira-tongue-flicking-arabic-meaning-tt-soc-02032020-20200203-wxe5wv5f2jg77jux7xrb75nihu-story.html |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Keening]]
*[[Onomatopoeia]]
*[[Tarzan yell]]
*[[Trill (music)|Trill]]
*[[Yodeling]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Wiktionary-inline|ululation}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.provincia.venezia.it/levi/ma/index/number4/langlois/1yuyu.wav | title = Sound clip of a North African ululation | access-date = 2006-01-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060113050342/http://www.provincia.venezia.it/levi/ma/index/number4/langlois/1yuyu.wav | archive-date = 2006-01-13 }}

{{Melody}}

{{Commons category-inline}}

[[Category:Singing techniques]]
[[Category:Extended techniques]]
[[Category:Battle cries]]

Ululation - Revision history

imported>Rodw: Disambiguating links to Luo (link changed to Luo languages) using DisamAssist.