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Reliving UAE's traditional games, art forms at Heritage Fest

Ras Al Khaimah - Emirates Heritage Festival in RAK sheds light on traditional games and art forms.

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A heritage festival took Emirati visitors back to their childhood memories as expatriate residents curiously watched the cultural heritage of the Emirati society.
The Fifth Emirates Heritage Festival in Ras Al Khaimah shed lights into the traditional Emirati life through games and art forms of yesteryears. The annual event, held by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development at the Shaml Folk Arts Association, saw the participation of 36 Emirati heritage associations and societies from across the country.
Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, said the festival was meant to maintain and bring life back to the UAE's traditional art forms.
"The ministry is making all efforts to spread awareness among the new generation about Emirati traditional arts which are one of the most important pillars of our national identity as always underlined by the UAE Government."

Traditional games > Al Laqfa: Girls sit in a circle, with 10 pebbles or seashells laid on the floor. A bigger pebble is thrown into the air while the remaining pebbles on the floor have to be collected using the same hand. > Al Boom: boys build wooden boats and race in the sea > Al Aarees: girls use clothes and accessories to make the most beautiful doll which is crowned the bride > Al Maqana: A blindfolded child run around to catch and identify others in the room as the other players make sounds to taunt the child.

The event saw the presence of a big number of students, young people and families.
"The festival is a good chance for Emirati families to remember our traditional art forms and games we used to play," Ali Rashid, an Emirati from the Shaml area told Khaleej Times.
"I always accompany my children to the festival which attract local citizens not only from the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, but from across the country," said Salem Abdulaziz, another Emirati, from the Dahan area.
Adnan Ukasha, Jordanian, said he was so keen to enjoy the diverse traditional art forms.
"I have been working here for over 10 years, and really like to know more about heritage of the UAE." Shaikh Nahyan said the UAE's heritage is represented in many folkloric arts and games.
"Such national events help UAE people express themselves, and understand the heritage and the life of their parents and grandparents."
The festival featured a number of the most important cultural and heritage events and handicrafts in the presence of 20 specialised heritage and folklore associations and 16 heritage foundations, along with delegates from Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, Iraq, Syria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Spain. Monah Al Juneibi, founder of the UAE National Games portal, said the event would help new generations better understand and know about the customs and traditions in the UAE.
"It is also a good chance to learn about and share expertise on the heritage, folk arts and traditional games and dances of other nations."
The list of the UAE traditional games includes Al Laqfa where girls sit in a circle, with 10 pebbles or seashells laid on the floor. A bigger pebble is thrown into the air while the remaining pebbles on the floor have to be collected using the same hand.
There is also Al Boom game where boys build wooden boats and race in the sea while in the Sack Race game, children enter into sacks and run fast to the finish line.
Girls use clothes and accessories to make the most beautiful doll which is crowned the bride in the Al Aarees games. In the Hadeed Wala Jareed game boys stand in a row and a player jumps on their back and tries to make them fall.
The standing player yells out Hadeed, if he doesn't fall, but shouts Jareed if he does, Al Juneibi said.
"A blindfolded child, in Al Maqana game, has to run around to identify the others, who are confined to a limited space. They taunt the blindfolded player with whispers and subtle noises."
Of the most popular traditional UAE dances is Ayyalah, which is a familiar war dance where swords (wooden sticks are used these days) are drawn in rhythmic turn and two lines of men stand opposite each other while poetry is recited over the music.
"Harbiya dance is similar but with repeated phrases rather than poetry. Liwa is also danced to loud drum beats to get the troop's spirits up; Haban (Khamiri/Khayali) is another example of this tradition."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com