22 April 2020
Produced by Bahrain Culture to be Nominated as UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, “The Art of Fijri” Movie Goes on You Tube
Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities broadcasts on its You Tube channel, “Fijri Art” movie on 23 April 2020, at 2:00 pm. The movie is part of BACA’s efforts to nominate this ancient art to the Tentative List of UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List. You can see this movie on Bahrain’s Culture You Tube Channel at @culturebah.
Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, Keen to revive the sweetest memories of the genuine Bahraini culture’s elements, produced this movie “ The Art of Fijri” , one of the most important folk traditional music traditions, interwoven with a rich history pearl diving and its industry Bahrain and the region, through testimonies of officials, experts and members of traditional music groups.
Indeed, the “Fijri Art” file was the first presented by the Kingdom of Bahrain alone as part of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage to be nominated to this world heritage list, given the uniqueness of Bahrain’s diversified cultural richness, as well as enhancing its safeguard measures and its preservation for future generations.
The fijri art is a performing tradition that includes five types, namely Bahri, Adasani, Makhloufi, Haddadi and Hassawi. It starts with “al –Jarhan” (Mawwal or Prologue) performed by “Al Nahham”) (balladeer) to show his vocal abilities and excellence, reaching his climax in creative improvisation and free interpretation. Then, comes the “Tanzeela”, the music line path, after which comes “Al Nahma” that the balladeer closes with it the music piece performance.
The Kingdom of Bahrain ratified the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on 7 March 2014. The purposes of this Convention are the safeguard the intangible cultural heritage; which is compatible with existing international human rights instruments, as well as with the requirements of mutual respect among communities, groups and individuals, and of sustainable development. Three lists are mentioned in this convention ; the Intangible Cultural Heritage List that requires Urgent safeguarding List , the Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage List, Register of Best Practices.
The Kingdom of Bahrain had previously nominated two files to this List; the “Al Nakhla- the Palm Tree” that has been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, on 11 December 2019, as an Arab heritage element shared between 14 Arab countries, led the UAE, and the Arabic Calligraphy, nominated to UNESCO list, this year, in cooperation with 22 Arab states led by Saudi Arabia
