A high-powered delegation of Saudi culture and heritage enthusiasts and connoisseurs of art joined Shaikha Mai Al- Khalifa the Minister of Culture of Bahrain to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Shaikh Ebrahim Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research on January 12-14 in Manama. Over 90 prominent Arab and international artists, curators, archeologists, researchers, poets and music lovers attended the three-day celebration that portrayed a unique contemporary and artistic architectural model that reflected the cultural heritage of Bahrain. Shaikha Mai graciously guided her guests through beautifully designed museums documenting Bahrain's heritage and restored historical sites and houses of Bahraini personalities established as cultural centers to preserve Bahrain's rich culture and history. It was impressive to see the amount of efficiency and finesse applied to the restoration project. Moreover, the presence of many distinguished Arab women from the Gulf, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt who are dedicated to promoting Arab culture added a sense of pride in Arab identity and heritage to the festivities. The audience was entertained for three days visiting historical sites and museums during the day and in the evening enjoying breathtaking musical performances by internationally acclaimed singers. Everyone was mesmerized by the beautiful voices and songs of the Egyptian opera singer Yasmeen Ali and the celebrated singer and academic Ghada Shbeir, one of the leading voices singing Andalusian and Assyrian religious chants. The performance of Zade Dirani a Jordanian pianist and composer whose music is a blend of Arabic, Latin, pop and classical music was quite a treat. The young pianist has been appointed by UNICEF as Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa as an advocate for the children caught in conflict, violence and poverty. He is well known for expressing cross-cultural understanding through the arts. The guests included Princess Jawaher Bint Majid, a genuine patron of the arts, who heads the Al-Mansouria nonprofit art foundation to support Saudi artists and promote the culture of art among Saudi citizens; Sheikha Hussah Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, princess of Kuwait who is a curator of Islamic art and the Director General of the Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyah in Kuwait. She has played a leading role in the presentation of Islamic art and cultural heritage. Among the guests were also Prof. Dr. Heba Aziz, head of the department of logistics, tourism and service management at the German University of Technology in Oman; Asma Al-Mutawaa founder of the Al-Multaqa literary salon in Abu Dhabi and Rasha Al-Ameer, a popular Lebanese writer, publisher and cultural critic. There were also many more professionals in the field of Arab and Islamic art and architecture from the Arab world. Indeed the caliber of Shaikha Mai's network of experts and professional supporters is the secret of her successful role in the preservation and protection of culture and heritage in Bahrain. Under her leadership, Manama, the capital of Bahrain, was officially declared the Asian Capital of Tourism in 2014, and since then the dynamic minister of culture has stepped up meaningful efforts to highlight the rich Bahraini cultural and archeological heritage. Shaikha Mai is the founding member of the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage. She, has won the First Class Order of Merit from HM King Hamad of Bahrain and many international awards as well as the Arab Thought Foundation Civil Creativity Award in recognition of her distinguished efforts in promoting programs of the Shaikh Ebrahim Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research to increase interest in art, architecture, music, literature, poetry and culture in general. She has also been recognized for her role in creating awareness among the new generation through cultural projects and activities. Reviving our Islamic culture and changing the rigid mindset remains a major challenge for all Gulf countries today. The leading role model has inspired many and to her credit she has set the ball rolling. Shaikha Mai continues to urge the need for an Arab Regional Center for Human Heritage project. Arabs today need to show the world that art and culture are an inherent part of their history. Promoting art and culture in our region is the only way to combat terrorism, extremism, sectarianism and violence that are threatening the once peaceful and most historical and cultural Arab cities in the world. Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
