Zion Golan

Zion Golan ציון גולן
Birth name	Zion Bajdalan
Born	(1955-10-06)October 6, 1955 Ashkelon,Israel
Origin	Ashkelon, Israel
Genres	Mizrahi music
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1978-present
Labels	Reuveni Brothers

Zion Golan(Hebrew:ציון גולןTzion Golan;Arabic:صهيون غولانSahyoun Ghawlan;زيون غولانZion Golan;b. 1955),also known asTzion Golan,is an Israeli singer ofYemenite Jewishorigin.

Background

Most of Golan's songs are inJudeo-Yemeni Arabicand inYemenite Hebrew.Most of his songs were written and composed by himself, his mother in law, Naomi Amrani and by other writers.Some of his songs were written by the famousRabbi Shalom Shabazi.

Golan has recorded over 22 albums. He records mostly from a studio in his own home.

Personal life

Golan was born to Yemeni immigrants inAshkelon,Israel. Amodern OrthodoxYemenite Jew, he currently lives with his wife and three children (two girls, one boy) in the Ahuzat Etrog neighborhood ofMerkaz Shapira.

In 1974, Golan joined theIsrael Defense Forcesas a soloist in theIsrael Army Rabbinical choir.

Worldwide reach

Golan's music is popular outside of Israel, particularly in Yemen, where his family originates. Though the Yemeni government prohibits direct contact with Israel, Golan's records have managed to reach the Yemeni public via the underground, selling around 50,000 copies per album release. It has been reported that his songs are known to "blare from cafes and taxis" in Yemen.

According to an interview in Israeli dailyYedioth Ahronoth,at one point in time Golan was set to give a performance inYemen,and visas were to be issued by the Jordanian embassy inTel Aviv,but the concert was canceled because of concerns for Golan's family.

Golan's songs are also sung by contemporary Yemeni singers such asFadel Al Hamami.

From the left, Yemeni singer Hussein Moheb alongside the Israeli singer Zion Golan at a wedding in Amman, Jordan, 2018

In 2018, Golan collaborated with the Yemeni pop singerHussein Mohebat a wedding inAmman,Jordanof a relative of former Yemeni PresidentAli Abdullah Saleh.

Example of Songs

The following songs were written and composed by Israelis, as mentioned on his album covers:

• Aba Shimon – Lyrics by Naomi Amrani, Melody By Zion Golan
• Halaluyoh – Lyrics by Naomi Amrani, Melody By Zion Sharabi
• Bint AlYaman – Lyrics by Aharon Amram, Melody by Zion Golan & Aharon Amram
• Halani – Lyrics by Rabbi Mordechai Yitzhari, Melody by Zion Golan
• Salam Salam – Lyrics by Rabbi Mordechai Yitzhari, Melody by Zion Golan
• Ahai Bane Teman – Lyrics by Rabbi Mordechai Yitzhari, Melody by Zion Golan
• Yuma Ya Yuma – Lyrics by Naomi Amrani, Melody by Zion Golan
• Sali Galbi – Lyrics by Naomi Amrani, Melody by Jacky Tubie
• Yom Al Ahad – Lyrics by Naomi Amrani, Melody by Jacky Tubie
• Diker Almahiba – Lyrics and Melody by Aharon Amram
• Adan Adan – Lyrics and Melody by Naomi Amrani
• Shufuni Be'Enak – Lyrics by Naomi Amrani, Melody by Zion Golan
• Rais Al-Mal – Lyrics by Leah Zlotnik, Melody by Lior Farhi
• Alf Mabruk – Lyrics and Melody by Zion Golan
• Yaman Yaman – Lyrics and Melody by Naomi Amrani
• Allah Yhibak – Lyrics and Melody by Ahraon Amram

Selected discography

• leAkhai Bani Teman,1992 (Hebrew:לאחי בני תימן,To my Yemeni brothers)
• Salam Salam,1995 (Hebrew:סלאם סלאם)
• Abo Sholem Shabazi,2000 (Hebrew:אבא שלום שבזי)
• miTemon liYisroel,2001 (Hebrew:מתימן לישראל,From Yemen to Israel)
• Ashorer Shir,2001? (Hebrew:אשורר שיר)
• Irham ya Rabi,2004 (Hebrew:ארחם יא רבי)
• Mahrozot Niflaot v'Duetim,2005 (Hebrew:מחרוזות נפלאות ודואטים)