The kudūd ḥalabiyya are amongst the most popular songs in contemporary Syria and are known across the Arab world. Although their precise origins are unknown, the kudūd (sing. kadd) became associated with the city of Aleppo because of its important role as a mercantile entrepot where various cultural traditions converged. Many of the kudūd derive from other Syria cities, especially Homs and Damascus, and even neighbouring countries such as Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran but are nonetheless referred to as Aleppine (ḥalab…