The Varni (Procopius), Varini (Tacitus), Varinnae (Pliny the Elder), Wærne/Werne (Widsith) and Warnii (the Thuringian Law) probably refer to a little known Germanic tribe. The name would have meant the "defenders". They lived in northern Germany. They are often called Warni and Warini in English.

They may have originated in the south Scandinavian region by their name Värend<reference ?> .

The earliest mention of this tribe appears in Tacitus' Germania, where he wrote:

(Original Latin) "Reudigni deinde et Aviones et Anglii et Varini et Eudoses et Suardones et Nuithones. Nec quicquam notabile in singulis, nisi quod in commune Nerthum, id est Terram matrem, colunt eamque intervenire rebus hominum, invehi populis arbitrantur. ..." --Tacitus, Germania, 40.^[1]

(English translation) "There follow in order the Reudignians, and Aviones, and Angles, and Varinians, and Eudoses, and Suardones and Nuithones; all defended by rivers or forests. Nor in one of these nations does aught remarkable occur, only that they universally join in the worship of Herthum (Nerthus); that is to say, the Mother Earth."--Tacitus, Germania, 40, translated 1877 by Church and Brodribb.^[2]

Pliny the Elder wrote Germanorvm genera qvinqve: Vandili, qvorvm pars Bvrgodiones, Varinnae, Charini, Gvtones meaning that there were five Germanic races: the Vandals whom the Burgundians were part of, the Varinnae, the Charini and the Gutones (Goths).

It is likewise mentioned in passing by Procopius who wrote that when the Heruls (Eruli) had been defeated by the Lombards, they returned to Scandinavia (Thule). They crossed the Danube (Ister), passed the Slavs (Sclaveni) and after a barren region, they came to the Varni. After the Varni they passed the Dani, and crossed the sea. In Scandinavia, they settled beside the Geats (Gautoi). Procopius: Book VI, xv.

They also appear in the Anglo-Saxon poem Widsith as the Werns.

On Ptolemy's map, they are placed in the area of Mecklenburg, where one of the main rivers is Warnow and a town is called Warnemünde. They were crushed by the Franks in 595.^{[citation needed]} When the Slavs arrived, they called themselves the Varnes, perhaps having assimilated remaining Varni.

See also[link]

Ancient Germanic culture portal

• Värend
• Frisia
• List of Germanic peoples

References[link]

External links[link]

• A scholarly treatment by Charles Harrison Wallace

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (July 2011)

Cheba Zahouania (also spelled Chaba, born Halima Mazzi May 15th 1959) is an Algerian-born singer known for raï music. She has lived in France since her singing partner, Cheb Hasni, was murdered in 1994.

Biography[link]

Halima Mazzi was born in Oran, Algeria, in 1959. Under the name Chaba Zahouania, she became a popular singer of raï, a hybrid folk music style. In 1986, five years after the start of her career, she achieved recognition with her performance of "Khâli ya khâli" (My uncle, oh, my uncle) with Cheb Hamid.

During the summer of 1987, Zahouania recorded "Beraka" ("The Shack"), with Cheb Hasni which was considered provocative by Algerian standards, gaining them attention.^[1] The success of the song made Hasni famous and added to Zahouania's fame, although the song remained controversial with critics and Islamic fundamentalists who were already concerned over the popularity of the Raï genre.

Hasni was murdered in Oran on 29 September 1994. Zahouania left Algeria and went to live in France. Cheba Zahouania's father still lives in nador, Morocco.

Selected discography[link]

• H Bibi Darha Biya (2003)
• El baraka (2002)
• Zahouania (2001)
• Samahni ya zine (2000)
• Rhythm n Raï (1997)
• Formule Raï (1995)
• Nights without Sleeping (1988)
• Rachid System Feat. Rim'K
• Wourini Win Rak Tergoud
• Mazelt fi lbal
• Ya Lala Torkia
• Amitiés Sacrée featuring TLF
• La Route Du Soleil featuring Rim'K

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Cheba Zahounia at Concerts.fr (French)
• Chaba Zahounia at HibaMusic

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