Hamza al-Zighayir

Al-Zighayir was born in Bab al-Taag, Karbala. His father, Abboud died when he was young, and al-Zighayir was raised by his widowed mother. He learnt the Quran at a young age. He was taken in by a Sheikh Abbas al-Saffar, who pushed him towards reading and eventually reciting elegies for the Ahl al-Bayt. He gained the epithet al-zighayir (the small/junior) to distinguish him from two other Hamza's, Hamza al-Samach (the fishmonger), and Hamza al-Tawil (the tall).

Al-Zighayir came from a very humble background, and first started working selling aluminum cookware. However, after a while, he purchased a small kiosk and sold dairy products from it. Eventually, he opened an ironing shop, and ironed clothes until his death.

al-Zighayir began reciting in his third decade, and gained recognition quickly for his unique voice and melodies. He rose to fame in a short period of time, and began being invited to recite at the Imam Husayn shrine, and many other processions across the city. ^[3][4][5] He then began representing Karbala in their processions when they used to visit the shrines in other cities, such as the Imam Ali shrine, Kadhimayn shrines, and Askariayn shrines.^[6]

He recited mainly the late poet, Sheikh Kadhim Mandhoor, but also other poets such as Aziz Gilgawi, Mehdi al-Amawi, Sa'eed al-Hirr, Abood Ghafla, Abd al-Husayn al-Shari', and many others.

al-Zighayir was married, and had three daughters, and one son. He had five sons whom all died a few months after their birth, except for his only surviving son, Ahmed (born 1956).

al-Zighayir is considered to be the main inspiration behind the renowned elegy reciter, Basim al-Karbalaei.^[7][8]