The song شاطر شاطر“ (Shater Shater”), as sung by Nancy Ajram, is a cheerful Arabic children’s song with a catchy melody. In the song, children are praised for behaving well, for example, when they listen to their parents, are tidy, don’t break their toys, help their friends, don’t lie, and do well at school. For each quality, the chorus is sung: “Shater, shater”, which roughly means “Clever, clever” or “Well done.”  

Nancy Ajram is one of the most beloved and influential pop singers in the Arab world. In Syria - and other countries in the region - traditional values such as politeness, obedience, honesty, cleanliness, and helpfulness are highly valued. It is precisely these values that are praised in the song. When the song was released in 2007, it was widely played on children's television channels and was also used in schools and daycare centers as an educational song.

The song "Shater Shater" reminds me of the past every time I hear it, because it was played everywhere. For example at primary schools, on the radio, and at birthday parties. I was quite young when it came out in 2010, nine years old.

I was born in Aleppo, and although I have lived in Enschede for eight years now, I am still a huge fan of Syrian music. Personally, I miss Syria terribly.