Oman: Desert, Oasis, and Sea
odd: label: Introduction
content: The Sultanate of Oman lies on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula, facing the Arabian Sea. Living at this crossroads between Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean, Omanis have developed a complex culture that draws on the country's Arab roots as well as its long-standing contacts with India, East Africa, and the Middle East. For millennia, Oman has traded throughout the region. Its ships have sailed to Asia and Africa, and its caravans have traveled overland to the shores of the Mediterranean, contributing to the country's surprisingly cosmopolitan history.

In recent decades, Oman has undertaken numerous cultural preservation projects that recognize the fragility of local traditions in the face of globalization - even if global exchange was familiar throughout Oman's history. Oman knows that its place in world history has created a unique culture that deserves support. Encouragement of traditional music and crafts coupled with laws to preserve local architecture and historic sites have been the hallmark of policies that value the past and also anticipate the future. The reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the Omani people's firm belief in Islam have united a people with broadly different experiences and histories. This cultural diversity is reflected in Oman's three vastly different environments - the desert, the oasis, and the sea. The Festival program used these three themes to illustrate how the country's complex culture reflects its people's responses to each environment.

Music in Omani society plays a role at every stage of a person's life. From birth, to coming of age and marriage, during professional life, and finally in death, an Omani is accompanied by traditional arts that express joy or pain or simply help with everyday work. Oman's traditional music is sustained by oral transmission between generations, and each region has its own unique forms. Songs and dances are performed during festivals and ceremonies throughout the country. Songs vary from region to region, north to south, from one environment to another. As Festival visitors could experience first-hand, songs of desert, oasis, and sea differ in purpose, content, and instrumentation.

Although the old is making way for the new in present-day Oman, progress is still a mantle worn lightly by a society that retains a strong commitment to tradition, culture, and heritage. The extent to which Omani craft products continue to have utility in daily life is quite remarkable, as is the extent to which craft producers continue to equate challenge with opportunity in the practice of their craft. Craft skills continue to be passed down from mother to daughter, father to son, and Oman remains among the few nations in the Middle East with a living heritage that remains relevant to both local populations and visitors. Festival visitors had the chance to observe craftspeople at work and to interact directly with them, breaking through barriers of language and distance.

In Oman, a Curatorial Committee included Hassan Mohammed Ali Al-Lawati (Chair), Riyadh Yousef Al Raisi, Majid Said Hilal Al Mahroqi, Khalfan Ahmed Al Barwani, Salim Adil Al Mamary, Abeer Abdullah Al Farsi, Abdullah Hilkal Al Dawodi, Adil Humaid Al Mur Al Alawi, and Saeed Sultan Al Busaidy. Richard Kennedy was Curator, and Saeed Sultan Al Busaidy and Mary N. Sebold were Program Coordinators. Marcia Dorr was Crafts Program Advisor; Khalfan Al-Barwani was Music Program Advisor; and Diana N'Diaye was Adornment Pavilion Program Advisor.

The program was produced in partnership with the Ministries of Heritage and Culture, Tourism, Information, and Foreign Affairs, and the Public Authority for Crafts Industries of the government of the Sultanate of Oman, and with the cooperation of the Middle East Institute (Washington, D.C.), and the Oman Heritage Gallery.
label: Presenters
content: Jamal Ahmed Ghulam Al Balushi, Khalfan Ahmed Al Barwani, Asyah Al Buali, Mubarak Al Dawodi, Majid Al Harthy, Murtatha Abdul Khaliq Al Lawattia, Hamood Abdullah Al Waheibi, Enrico Derrico, Adam Dorr, Marcia Dorr, Neil Richardson, Muna Ritchie
label: Participants
content: Craft Traditions

Aromatics and Pottery

Mahfoodha Hamed Said Al-Amri, 1962-, incense, Salalah, Oman

Muna Mohammed Mahad Al-Amri, 1960-, incense burners, Salalah, Oman

Ghaliya Ali Mohammed Al-Bas, 1945-, incense, Salalah, Oman

Maryam Ahmad Balhaj, perfume, Salalah, Oman

Calligraphy

Saleh Juma Muslem Al-Shukairi, 1977-, calligraphy, Muscat, Oman

Mohammed Kasim Nasser Al-Sayegh, 1971-, calligraphy, Muscat, Oman

Desert Camp

Nasra Nasser Saad Al-Batahari, 1976-, camel milking baskets, Shleem, Oman

Jawhara Said Ali Al-Duwaiki, 1966-, camel trappings, Ibra, Oman

Haniya Sultan Al-Waheibi, 1952-, camel trappings, Ibra, Oman

Najud Hamoud Al-Wahibi, Bedouin cosmetics, Ibra, Oman

Embroidery

Khalsa Mohammed Abdullah Al-Jabri, 1965-, Cap embroidery, Samail, Oman

Najla Juma Said Al-Sinani, 1978-, Suri embroidery, Sur, Oman

Masar Jamaan Saad Bait-Saad, 1959-, Salalah embroidery, Salalah, Oman

Maryam Ali Rashid Al-Shehhi, 1967-, date palm baskets, Kasab, Oman

Indigo

Amur Saleem Salim Al-Shamakhi, 1940-, indigo-dyed cloth, Bahla, Oman

Metalwork

Mubarak Abdullah Ismail Al-Farsi, 1952-, copperwork, Sur, Oman

Musabah Jaarof Khamis Al-Hadad, 1945-, metalwork, Manah, Oman

Ibrahim Hamood Al-Isma'ili, 1978-, silver jewelry, Nizwa, Oman

Omar Abdullah Khalifin Al-Rashidi, 1944-, silver  -- khanjar --  work, Sinaw, Oman

Khalid Naseer Saif Al-Taiwani,  -- khanjar --  adornment, Nizwa, Oman

Weaving

Sulaiman Abdullah Basan Al-Khatri, 1961-, wool weaving, Al-Hamra, Oman

Khalfan Amur Khalfan Al-Badowi, 1941-, silk weaving, Al-Mudaibi, Oman

Occupational Traditions

Oasis Kitchen

Samira Bakhit Abdulla Al-Badri, 1964-, Omani cooking, Muscat, Oman

Zahir Hamed Mohammed Al-Dhahli, 1978-, halwa making, Muscat, Oman

Said Abdullah Said Al-Harthy, 1972-, Omani cooking, Muscat, Oman

Ahmed Rashid Abdullah Al-Masroori, 1974-, halwa making, Muscat, Oman

Traditional Building

Khalid Juma Hassoun Al-Araimi, 1974-, boats, Sur, Oman

Ahmed Mubarak Sabeit Al-Oraimi, 1979-, boats, Sur, Oman

Ali Said Khamis Al-Yahyaai, 1946-, traditional structures, Bahla, Oman

Saleh Khalaf Saif Al-Yahyaai, traditional structures, Bahla, Oman

Music and Dance Traditions

Al Majd, Salalah (South Oman traditions)  -- Al Majd, Salalah (South Oman traditions)Said Awadh Salim Al-Hadhrami, 1966-Jalal Awadh Said Alloun, 1979-Abdul Sharif Bakhit Ba-Maalaq, 1971-Dhiyab Nasser Arfah Bait Al-Rabash, 1982-Nassr Bashir Ashoor Bait-Ardhain, 1979-Samid Nasib Farhan Bait-Bu Salasel, 1976-Wafa Said Mohammed Bait-Dashisha, 1982-Appian Said Jamaan Bait-Farhan, 1980-Abdul Hadi Fael Bait-Maaleq, 1983-Abir Gharib Bakhit Bait-Mabrook, 1990Khaloud Gharib Bakhit Bait-Mabrook, 1992-Ataf Saleh Faraj Bait-Mustahil, 1982-Said Aman Allah Said Bait-Naghathit, 1979-Naji Awadh Rajab Bait-Rabia, 1985-Rajab Khamis Saad Bait-Saleem, 1969-Amna Riyadh Rabia Bait-Taroom, 1953-Abdallah Masib Faraj Al-Amri, 1967-Rasam Rabia Nasib Maad, 1977-Anwar Nasib Saad Qafqaf, 1974-Arafat Matar Rajab, 1978-

Qurayat Ensemble (Central Coast traditions)  -- Qurayat Ensemble (Central Coast traditions)Namir Khamis Ishaq Al-Balushi, 1979-Said Taraif Saleem Al-Ghazali, 1972-Amal Khamis Juma Al-Habsi, 1986-Nabil Naseeb Sangor Al-Jabri, 1979-Suad Obaid Salmeen Al-Jabri, 1986-Ali Khamis Said Al-Jahdhami, 1964-Naaim Suwaid Sangoor Al-Risadi, 1980-Mubarak Khamis Juma Al-Ruzaiqi, 1969-Talib Khalfan Salim Al-Sha'aibi, 1971-Afrah Juma Sulaiyam Al-Sinani, 1986-Amal Juma Sulaiyam Al-Sinani, 1982-Hadaiyad Rabia Hadaiyad Al-Sinani, 1971-Mahfoodh Abdullah Najim Al-Sinani, 1966-Rahima Rabia Hadid Al-Sinani, 1977-Rahma Juma Sulaiyam Al-Sinani, 1973-Saleh Yousuf Fail Al-Sinani, 1970-Salim Juma Suleum Al-Sinani, 1964-Yousuf Thani Fayil Al-Sinani, 1981-Ahmed Zaid Fail Al-Waheibi, 1980-Zayid Khalif Mubarak, 1979-

Suhar Ensemble (North Coast traditions)  -- Suhar Ensemble (North Coast traditions)Abdullah Saleh Al-Balushi, 1935-Ibrahim Mubarak Hamed Al-Balushi, 1952-Juma Khamis Juma Al-Balushi, 1980-Sinan Ibrahim Ali Al-Balushi, 1946-Ali Suhail Salim Al-Dhahri, 1981-Obaid Mohammed Obaid Al-Farisi, 1959-Khamis Ali Mohammed Al-Hamdani, 1954-Mohammed Abdullah Al-Hamdani, 1941-Said Nasib Kharabash Al-Hamdani, 1977-Abdallah Saleh Ali Al-Jabri, 1958-Abdullah Khadeem Dhiwai Al-Kahali, 1952-Abdullah Ali Shinain Al-Maqbali, 1943-Abdullah Salmeen Al-Maqbali, 1977-Khalfan Saleh Abdullah Al-Nofli, 1956-Younis Juma Kharnis Al-Nofli, 1978-Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Qasmi, 1954-Saad Said Nasib Al-Qasmi, 1977-A'saim Ali Mohammed Al-Shafei, 1981-Mohammed Ali Ibrahim Al-Shezawi, 1949-Darwish Saleh Salim Al-Shibli, 1932-Dhahi Ghasab Dhahi Al-Shibli, 1939-Salim Mohammed Abdulla Al-Shibli, 1955-Mohammed Hassan Said Al-Shidi, 1930-Khamis Ali Khaif Al-Hamdani, 1940-
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2005 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2005, Series 5
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials