SHARJAH CELEBRATES ARABIC HERITAGE
The 16th Sharjah Heritage Days festival was inaugurated in the presence of UAE Supreme Council member and Sharjah Governor Dr Sultan AlQasimi under the slogan “With Heritage, We Rise”. The event is organized by the Sharjah Institute of Heritage. Qasimi toured the heritage village and its booths and saw firsthand the participation by various countries and communities, including depictions of UAE’s agricultural, mountainous and desert environments.
Qasimi made a special visit to the Czech pavilion, the guest of honor this year. He also opened the AlNabouda Museum, which is supervised by the Sharjah museums authority. This ancient house, built in 1845 by Obaid Al-Shams, is known as Al-Naboodah, as Shams traded in pearls and reached India and Europe due to his business relations. The event witnessed around 600 experts, researchers, writers and media from 31 countries around the world.
Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage Dr Abdulaziz Al-Musallam told Kuwait Times Sharjah preserves old heritage, starting with education and culture, as the first cultural symposium in Sharjah was held in the 1920s by Humaid Al-Kindi. The first regulated school was a co-ed established in 1942. Cultural festivals began a long time ago, he added. He said modern introductions like the first radio, airport, etc began in Sharjah, so it is fitting for Sharjah to be the capital of culture.
Musallam said Sharjah has six cultural establishments that are working within the vision of the Sharjah governor. They are the Sharjah Book Authority, Sharjah Heritage Institute, Cultural Department, Sharjah Museum Authority, Sharjah Antiquities Authority and Sharjah Arts Institute. He said Sharjah witnesses 2,000 cultural events annually, and its publications are vast and relate to all Arabs. “We do not make it exclusive to the UAE only, but it is available for all Arabs,” he said.
He added a new department called Arab Heritage Center at the institute supports research, studies and archives and the ethnographic aspect of the Arab world. Musallam said this is supported by education, as there are eight universities in Sharjah. There is also support of innovation and the Arab language through the new Arabic language complex, which will include elite Arabic language institutions in the Arab world.
So how did the idea of the “With Heritage, We Rise” slogan come about? “We have a slogan every year, and we try to project heritage with great importance, as heritage in many events is not given its deserved attention. So, we try to make heritage the focus of our events. Just like the pyramids in Egypt and Taj Mahal in India are must-visit tourist attractions, so is the Bait Al Naboodah, located in the heart of Sharjah. It is a major attraction for visitors all year round and during the ongoing Sharjah Heritage Days event,” Musallam said.
Bait Al Naboodah
Offering visitors an opportunity to learn about the authentic architectural design of the traditional Emirati houses, as well as the lifestyle and values of Arab ancestors, Bait Al Naboodah is a marvelous piece of architecture. Shamsi, nicknamed Al Naboodah, was a prominent pearl trader who had commercial ties with India, Africa and France. The construction process of the house passed through several phases, according to the family’s growth. Built around a large courtyard, the walls are made of coral with an innovative method of air conditioning and inimitable decorative carvings in both plaster and wood. The ancient architectural marvel also features ancient traditional family life and routines displayed through works of ancient Arabian craftsmen.
“The idea in hosting the Sharjah Heritage Days fest is to encourage the youth to explore and learn about the tradition and heritage of our country. Bait AlNaboodah is one of the most-visited places in the heart of Sharjah and we are glad to let visitors including young and old see and explore this magnificent structure, which takes you back to the ancient Arab era,” Musallam said.
Spanning across 1,100 sq m, the stunning heritage building assists visitors of all ages, nationalities and interests to learn, discuss and explore Sharjah’s past. Legend says that Al Naboodah lived in this house with his three wives and children. The ancient heritage structure contains many rooms, water wells, majlis (guestroom) and a library, and the interior and exterior designs are characterized by unique decorative carvings in plaster, wood and palm trunks.
Sharjah has been known for its rich heritage and the desire to offer a multicultural experience for its visitors. All these preserved architectural sites and projects combine an Arabic, Islamic and Emirati focus with an international outlook which makes it easy for visitors from all over the world to explore UAE’s rich culture and heritage. This year’s cultural fair oversees a growing plethora of ancient artifacts, galleries, exhibitions,
historical sites and cultures of people from 21 countries. Held under the theme ‘With Heritage, We Rise’, the cultural festival is an opportunity for visitors to experience diverse segments of the society which showcases tangible and intangible heritage items of the emirate and beyond.
Barakat Al-Turath Initiative
Sharjah Heritage Days (SHD) has a special section for the elderly called “Barakat Al-Turath Initiative” (Blessings of Heritage). This section receives appreciations from various authorities and visitors as it keeps senior citizens busy with what they enjoy. Head of Public Relations at SHD Aisha Ghabish said “we always do our best to attract elderly people to engage them through the community and to allow them to teach today’s generation out of their experience.” She added “here at SHD, senior citizens teach handicrafts, pottery, crochet, etc.
Ghabish said that the elderly started being engaged in 2017, and there are more than 20 men and women over the age of 60 who are displaying their skills and passing them to young visitors. The E-Turath section in SHD event located in the heart of Sharjah contains two technologies which are the 360-degree virtual reality and the Touch and Throw technology
The 360-degree virtual reality presents mementos and items owned by Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad AlQasimi, ruler of Sharjah. Visitors can try the 360degree VR at E-Turath to get immersed in the Arabian Heritage Center exhibition located in the University City of Sharjah. The exhibited items owned by Sheikh Sultan Al-Qasimi are received mostly from presidents, kings, and princes. The Arabian Heritage Center is a great exhibition for individuals passionate about cultures and heritage.
It contains wedding dresses of UAE and GCC countries, traditional clothes of many cities in Levant and Mesopotamia, traditional clothes and swords of North Africa, and many other items. Visitors of SHD can either view these items at E-Turath using the VR or enter the actual exhibition of the Arabian Heritage Center at the University of Sharjah for free during the work hours.
As for the Touch and Throw technology, visitor can press the desired logo of a certain event on the screen and the visitor will get information in Arabic as well as English. The events presented are organized by Sharjah Institute for Heritage which includes Sharjah Heritage Days, World Cultural Heritage Weeks in Sharjah, Nisf Sha’ban Celebration, Sharjah International Narrator Forum, and Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage.
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the organizer of Sharjah Heritage Days, recently launched the Sharjah Institute for Heritage application for Android devices and will soon launch it for iOS as well. It contains many subjects including news and events organized by the institution.