Ayyala is a popular Bedouin performance held north-western Oman and throughout the United Arab Emirates and can also be found in Qatar. Ayyala usually involves chanted poetry, drum music and dance. The performance is meant to simulate a battle scene, with thin bamboo sticks in the place of spears or swords. Musicians beat the larger al-ras drums, sometimes using the blunt end of a palm frond as a drumstick, while other play the slightly smaller, double-ended drums called takhamir. Between the rows other musicians play tambourines (tar) and small brass cymbals.
