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19 March 2019 Riyadh International Book Fair Cultural Council Discussion Forum, Invites Dr. Dheya Abdullah Khamis Al Kaabi to shed lights on Bahraini Culture
Riyadh International Book Fair Cultural Council Discussion Forum, Invites Dr. Dheya Abdullah Khamis Al Kaabi to shed lights on Bahraini Culture

 

Dr. Dheya Abdullah Al Kaabi Assistant Professor of Literary Criticism and Narrative, University of Bahrain, presented on 19 March 2019, a lecture titled “ The Making of Culture in the Kingdom of Bahrain, from Founding Fathers to Universal Cultures” as part of the cultural program dedicated to Bahraini Guest of Honor at the Riyadh International Book Fair 2019. The event was attended by selection of intellectuals from Saudi Arabia, and lovers of culture and arts inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.


Before her lecture presentation, Dr Dheya al Kaabi, lauded the hirtsorical relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,   the relentless fruitful  efforts deployed by both the Culture Authority in Bahrain and the Ministry of Information in Saudi Arabia to develop and enhance the local and regional cultural scene. Al Kaabi added that cultural relations are enhancing this special relationships, bringing together, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia in a unified cultural context, increasing every day.

Afterwards, Dr Dheya al Kaabi gave a detailed presentation of the reality of  Bahraini modern and contemporary  history of culture, since the first  beginnings, the very core of its formation, pointing out to the strong cultural relations between both kingdoms, coinciding with Bahraini culture renaissance. The example of famous Late writer and novelist, Ghazi al Gosaibi and a number of Saudi intellectuals and writers clearly reflects their symbolic presence and the impact they had on enhancing and developing the cultural scene in Bahrain.
 
  Dr Dheya al Kaabi also shed lights on historical periods considered crucial in developing a rich Bahraini culture, such as the printing, newspapers and journal periods, the establishment of vital directorates and government  ministries, such the Ministry of Information, until the formation of an independent culture authority, which is considered a drastic and quantum leap in an exceptional period of Bahraini’s history. Having succeeded to achieve these great deeds, Bahraini culture open a window on the world reaching far and beyond regional and international community, thanks to mega cultural projects and initiatives, such as BACA’s “ Oral History” project, “ Knowledge Transfer Project”, not to speak of urban development projects aimed to safeguard universal cultural heritage, such as UNESCO World Heritage “ Pearling Path”  and the Intangible World Heritage, as manifested by oral traditions hosted by Dar al Riffa and Dar al Muharraq folk music arts.
      
Dr Dheya al Kaabi also highly valued the “ Invest in Culture” initiative, considering it as a real cornerstone in culture development, a pioneer endeavour to establish a new economic cultural vision, known today as “ Knowledge Economy”,  savoir, savoir-faire, savoir-être) to generate tangible and intangible values. This project “ Invest in Culture” launched by H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa has become today the breathing air of culture, anchoring a fruitful relationship between private sector investment and rentable cultural product, which is finally a national product.

 At the end of her lecture, Dr Dheya al Kaabi was honored by Riyadh International Book Fair management team for her valuable participation and constructive cultural intervention. Worth to mention that Dr Dheya al Kaabi has also launched a book sign events at the fair of her latest book, entitled,  Encyclopedia of Bahraini Folktales: Thousands and Thousands of Tales, in collaboration with the Folk Culture Archive for Studies”. The project is the fruit of collective documentation and information gathering undertaken by 100 male and female students at the University of Bahrain during ten years and supervised by Dr Dheya al Kaabi. The project is sponsored by the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV),  a worldwide network of individuals and institutions working to preserve and protect all forms of folk art. The project is considered as a great achievement for the Kingdom of Bahrain because it is the first biggest folk narrative tales selection in the Arab world, the first filed survey of folk tales in Bahrain carried out according to high scientific standards. According to Dr Dheya al Kaabi this is the first phase of the five coming phases, which include the translation of the book into English, as well as other important projects in this regard.