Folklore and Folklife in the United Arab Emirates

by Hurriez,Sayyid Hamid

• ISBN13: 9780700714131
• ISBN10: 0700714138
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-04-25
• Publisher: RoutledgeCurzon

Summary

The affluent oil-producing modern state which emerged in 1971 as the United Arab Emirates is deeply rooted in its cultural heritage. Present generations find themselves at a crossroads between tradition and modernisation. Aware of this, political leaders have paid considerable attention to folklore and cultural heritage and attempted to provide folklore with social and political relevance in modern society.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Preface	x
Acknowledgements	xii
Note on Transliteration and Abbreviations	xiii
Introduction	1	(6)
The United Arab Emirates	7	(23)
Geographical Setting	7	(3)
Historical Background	10	(13)
Socio-political Profile	23	(7)
The State of Folklore Studies and Research in the UAE	30	(12)
Introduction	30	(1)
Folklore Studies in the Arab World	31	(1)
Folklore and Folklife Studies in the UAE	32	(2)
Research Institutions and Researchers	34	(3)
Domains and Genres	37	(5)
Folklore in Private and Public Life	42	(14)
Folklore in Private Life	42	(2)
Folklore in Public Life	44	(1)
Folklore and Folklife in Education	44	(6)
Folklore and Folklife in the Mass Media	50	(4)
Folklore and Folklife on National and Religious Occasions	54	(2)
Folklore and the State	56	(15)
The Continuity of Heritage	57	(3)
The Role of Folklore in Enhancing Traditional Leadership	60	(1)
The Role of Leadership in Promoting Traditional Heritage	60	(5)
Government Institutions and State Supported Societies	65	(6)
Folk Literature	71	(15)
Folk Narratives	71	(9)
Folk Poetry	80	(1)
Proverbs	81	(3)
Riddles	84	(2)
Folk Customs and Beliefs	86	(19)
Pregnancy and Childbirth	86	(5)
Infancy and Childhood	91	(1)
Circumcision	92	(2)
Marriage	94	(6)
Death and Funerals	100	(5)
Folk Medicine	105	(21)
Oriqins and Sources of UAE Folk Medicine	106	(1)
Folk Medicine in Traditional UAE Society	107	(6)
Folk Medicine in Contemporary UAE Society	113	(13)
Performing Folk Arts	126	(20)
Folk Dance	127	(8)
Folk Songs	135	(6)
Popular Folk Games	141	(2)
Traditional Festivals	143	(3)
Material Culture	146	(21)
Material Culture in Traditional UAE Society	147	(9)
Urbanization and Material Culture in the UAE	156	(8)
Material Culture in Contemporary UAE Society	164	(3)
Conclusion	167	(3)
Notes	170	(4)
Bibliography	174	(5)
Appendixes	179	(10)
Index	189