Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arts
If you chose one feature that distinguishes art in the Arabian Peninsula (and in the Arab
world in general) from that of Western tradition, it would have to be the close integration of
function with form. In other words, most Arab art has evolved with a purpose. That pur-
pose could be as practical as embellishing the prow of a boat with a cowrie shell to ward
off 'evil eye', or as nebulous as creating intricate and beautiful patterns to intimate the
presence of God and invite spiritual contemplation. Purpose is an element that threads
through all Peninsula art - craft, music, architecture and poetry.
The Bedu are known for their sense of humour which they list - alongside courage, alertness and religious
faith - as one of the four secrets of life, encouraging tolerance and humility.
Poetry
Nothing touches the heart of a Peninsula Arab quite like poetry. Traditionally dominating
Arab literature, all the best-known figures of classical Arabic and Persian literature are po-
ets, including the famed Omar Khayyam, the 11th-century composer of
rub'ai
(quatrains),
and the 8th-century Baghdadi poet, Abu Nuwas. All great Arab poets were regarded as pos-
sessing knowledge forbidden to ordinary people and, as such, they served the purpose of
bridging the human and spirit worlds.
The Son of a Duck is a Floater,
by Arnander and Skipworth, is a fun collection of Arab sayings with English
equivalents. It's worth buying just to see how wisdom is universal - not to mention the thoroughly enjoy-
able illustrations.
To this day, poetry recitals play an important part in all national celebrations, and even
the TV-watching young are captivated by a skilfully intoned piece of verse.
Poetry is part and parcel of the great oral tradition of storytelling that informs the literat-
ure of all Peninsula countries, the roots of which lie with the Bedu. Stories told by nomadic
elders to the wide-eyed wonder of the young serve not just as after-dinner entertainment,
but as a way of binding generations together in a collective oral history. As such,
storytelling disseminates the principles of Islam and of tribal and national identity. It extols
the virtues of allegiance, valour, endurance and hospitality - virtues that make life in a
harsh environment tolerable.
