Hacha'a

Hach'a, also written as Hacha or Hachaa or Hechea (from Iraqi Arabic هَچَع meaning "lying down"), with or without the Arabic definite article Al- or El-, is an Iraqi folk poetic, musical, and dance performance style (tawr). This tradition originated in northern and central Iraq (Samarra, Mosul, Tikrit) and spread to southern Iraq after World War I, where it became especially popular in the Roma (Kawliya) community, which is also the name of the accompanying dance.

Hacha'a is a rhythmic performance style (tawr) of Iraqi folk music, rather than a melodic mode (Maqam). The most distinctive sound is that of the drum known as Khishba, Zanboor or Kasour, which has a narrow tube-shaped body made of wood, with a fish-skin head glued on top. The head is moistened and the drum is struck rapidly with both hands to produce a fast-paced roll characteristic of the style, many beats faster than the main beat of the song. Iraqi traditional or modern musical instruments can be used. The genre gained mainstream recognition through singer Zuhour Hussein and her recording of "Al-Hajaa" in the mid-20th century.

The Hach'a accompanying dance is an expressive dance that emphasizes complex movements of the hands and neck, with some hip movements. This dance is a solo or group dance for women mostly, with sometimes a male drummer who dances circling the women. There are special moves for women with longer hair since they can swing and flail their hair around wildly in the dance.