Renowned Bahraini poet Ali Abdulla Khalifa urged academics and students at Ahlia University to prioritize Gulf folklore in their research and activities. During a cultural seminar titled “Gulf Folklore: Context and Future,” Khalifa highlighted the cultural and civilizational value of folklore, lamenting the significant loss of this heritage due to a lack of awareness of its historical and societal importance. He emphasized its connection to identity, authenticity, and regional belonging.
The seminar, organized by Ahlia University’s Center for Arabic Language and Middle Eastern Studies, was chaired by Dr. Rafeeka bin Rajab, a prominent associate professor in Arabic literature and literary critic. It is part of the center’s initiatives to enrich Bahrain’s and the Gulf’s cultural and literary landscapes.
Khalifa commended Ahlia University for its academic excellence, praising the visionary leadership of Professor Abdulla Al Hawaj, the Founding President, for fostering an environment that values literature and culture. He described the University as a beacon of academic and cultural innovation, reflecting its deep connection to Bahraini identity and heritage.
Dr. Rafeeka bin Rajab introduced Khalifa, highlighting his distinguished contributions to cultural leadership. He is the President of the International Organization for Folk Art, which oversees 167 branches worldwide, and heads the Abdulrahman Kanoo Cultural Center. Khalifa is also the Secretary-General of the Isa Award for Service to Humanity and the editor-in-chief of “Folk Culture Magazine.”
Khalifa shared his journey of passion for folklore, beginning in his childhood, where he developed a love for traditional music and poetry. His early involvement with renowned figures, such as Danish ethnomusicologist Poul Olsen and Swiss professor Simon Jargy, led him to recognize the significance of Gulf folklore as a valuable field of study. Khalifa’s early efforts included documenting traditional songs and oral histories across Bahrain and neighboring Gulf countries, preserving materials that would otherwise have been lost.
In Qatar, Khalifa took his preservation work further, compiling collections like Hassan Al-Farhan Al-Noaimi’s poetry and advocating for the establishment of a Gulf-wide folklore center. This vision materialized in the Gulf Folklore Center, which operated from 1984 to 2005 and achieved significant milestones, including organizing international conferences, publishing “Popular Heritage Magazine,” and training Gulf-based researchers in field documentation.
Khalifa underscored the need to preserve Gulf folklore, urging students and researchers to explore its rich oral histories, traditional crafts, and cultural practices. He emphasized that such efforts not only safeguard heritage but also contribute to a deeper understanding of identity and shared history in the region.
