Latest news with #AbdulazizAlMusallam
Sharjah 24
7 days ago
- General
- Sharjah 24
SIH chairman explores Bibliotheca Alexandrina facilities
Exploring displays and restoration laboratories The visit included a tour of the Manuscripts and Antiquities Museums, as well as visiting the "Alexandria Through the Ages" exhibitions, which showcase rare Egyptian and global cultural treasures. Dr Al Musallam also toured the restoration laboratory and digital archives, where he learnt about advanced ways for conserving historical documents and cultural items. Engagement with publishers at the international book fair He also went to the continuing Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Book Fair, which was held in the library's courtyard. He toured the displays of several publishing houses and evaluated new publications in heritage, history, and the humanities. He spoke with publishers and cultural figures about the value of knowledge sharing in preserving Arab cultural identity. Reflections on visit Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam commented on the visit, saying, "It was an honour to visit Bibliotheca Alexandrina today, a unique cultural landmark that connects authenticity and modernism and offers the wonderful humanitarian message of preserving knowledge and history." The diversity of specialisations and initiatives here confirms that we are witnessing a knowledge institution befitting of Alexandria's rich history and future ambitions. At the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, we treasure this experience and look forward to future cultural collaborations." Strengthening cultural ties The visit is part of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage's efforts to strengthen cultural relations with leading Arab institutions and exchange expertise in the fields of documentation, heritage preservation, and specialised academic publishing.
Sharjah 24
07-07-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
SIH launches Abdulaziz Al Musallam's "Cursetjee's Journey" book
The publication offers an in-depth critical reading of the journey of an Indian traveler of Persian origin to the Gulf region in the late nineteenth century, revealing racist and class-based prejudices in the description of Arabs within an Orientalist context influenced by the British colonial vision. The 68-page publication is part of the Institute's 2025 publications. It is the result of a field and cultural trip Al Musallam made to Mumbai, India, last June, searching its government archives for documents related to the Gulf. The trip, in collaboration with several academics, including researcher Dr Chhaya Goswami, explored the city's government archives for documents related to the Gulf. A shocking text and a documentation project The project began more than two decades ago, when Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam found the book "Land of the Date" in an office and was surprised by its shocking content. In the book, the author describes the Gulf residents in disparaging terms, including: "Most of them are Arabs and Persians... They are characterised by their coarse nature and hideous appearance... These passengers rarely wash, or do not wash at all." He also described the workers as: "Similar to a group of vagabonds... Noisy, dirty, and hideous... The passengers liken them to Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." This harsh language prompted Al Musallam to delve deeper into the travelogue and analyse the cultural and social contexts that shaped this biased view of the people of the Gulf and the region. A Cultural analysis of a colonial context The book deals with Cursetjee's journey from Bombay to Basra between 1916 and 1917, at the height of World War I, when British influence was rising in the Gulf. The traveler provides an accurate description of the ports, people, customs, natural phenomena, and myths. However, reading the book critically reveals a biased perspective that reflects the condescending view that prevailed in British Orientalist discourse toward Arabs during that period. A publication that represents an ongoing project Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam emphasised that these publications are not just written papers, but rather an intellectual project that reflects the commitment of the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE to preserving cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations." He added that this work represents the first part of an expanded project, to be published later in a second part. The project will address the traveler's notes during his visits to several other Arab countries and regions, including his observations on architecture, social life, markets, and local people, in an attempt to connect the textual image to the historical and cultural reality of that period.
Gulf Today
06-07-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
Meet helps re-read Western texts with a critical Arab eye
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) has wrapped up its Second Heritage Conference, held at the Arab Heritage Center in Sharjah University City. Over two days, the event brought together researchers, academics, and experts from more than 20 countries, both Arab and international. The conference included engaging discussions about different aspects of popular heritage, featuring talks, research presentations, and workshops that covered a variety of topics related to cultural studies and documentation. During the closing ceremony, Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, the Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, presented Dr Saif Al Badwawi with the award for Personality of the Year. This honour recognized his exceptional work in preserving folklore and his dedication to documenting the cultural identity of the UAE and the surrounding region. Additionally, speakers, guests, and strategic partners were acknowledged for their contributions, which played a significant role in making the conference a successful cultural event. In his closing remarks, Al Musallam, said: 'The Second Heritage Conference, with its theme 'Folklore in the Eyes of the Other,' represented a milestone in the journey of heritage knowledge. It opened wide windows onto travel literature and revealed subtle, multifaceted aspects of how others receive our folklore. These sessions and scholarly papers represent a profound step in re-reading Western texts with an Arab critical eye, restoring the image and its balance, and rehabilitating our cultural voice.' He added, 'We at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage believe that openness to what has been written about us is a cultural necessity, and that engaging with this written heritage from abroad requires solid scientific tools and responsible critical awareness. The dialogue, diversity, and difference we witnessed over the two days constitutes an intellectual treasure upon which we will build future conferences, publications, and research. This will place our heritage at the heart of the global cultural movement and chart new paths for researchers and those interested in understanding the self through the lens of the other.' Abu Bakr Al Kindi, Director of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, said: 'We are proud of the scholarly momentum and rich discussions witnessed at the Second Heritage Conference. We are also proud of the high level of participation, which confirmed that popular heritage remains vibrant and meaningful, forming a solid foundation for cultural dialogue and convergence.' Dr Saif Bin Abdul Badawi expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to the institute for this generous gesture, commending the institute's pioneering role in supporting researchers and those interested in heritage issues. He added, 'This honour is not merely a celebration of me personally, but rather a tribute to all those who care about heritage and work to preserve and document it.' He considered that 'this initiative will continue to be a catalyst for further contributions to the journey of research and science.' Dr Mona Bounaama, Content Director at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and conference coordinator, praised the success of the event and the level of interaction witnessed in the conference programme. He noted that the presentations reflect a collective awareness of the importance of reading folklore through the eyes of others. RECOMMENDATIONS: The 'Second Heritage Conference' issued several scientific and cultural recommendations to enhance studies on travel literature and representations of the 'other' in popular heritage. Participants urged a reevaluation of the writings of travellers and Orientalists using contemporary scientific criticism methodologies. They advocated for analytical comparisons between groups of travellers from various geographical regions and similar time periods to derive a more realistic portrayal and compare it with available local studies. The attendees emphasised the need to establish practical laboratories for translating Western research and studies on travel literature and forming scientific committees to review untranslated travel accounts, particularly Russian works. Among the recommendations was the proposal to extend the conference from two to three days and to publish the presented research in a scientific book. WAM
Al Etihad
05-07-2025
- Al Etihad
Heritage Conference recommends documentation of travel literature
5 July 2025 19:02 SHARJAH (WAM)The Second Heritage Conference, organised by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage under the theme 'Popular Heritage Through the Eyes of Others', took place at the Arab Heritage Centre in the University City of conference issued several scientific and cultural recommendations to enhance studies on travel literature, and representations of the "other" in popular urged a reevaluation of the writings of travellers and Orientalists using contemporary scientific criticism advocated for analytical comparisons between groups of travellers, from various geographical regions and similar time periods, to derive a more realistic portrayal and compare it with available local attendees emphasised the need to establish practical laboratories for translating Western research and studies on travel literature, and forming scientific committees to review untranslated travel accounts, particularly Russian the recommendations was the proposal to extend the conference from two to three days, and to publish the presented research in a scientific also suggested creating an online library featuring works of travellers and Orientalists, along with a specialised database for researchers and translators in this recommendations further called for stimulating critical studies addressing representations of the "other" in popular heritage through various approaches, including anthropology, semiotics, narratives, and post-colonial they highlighted the need to examine the interaction between oral and narrative cultures as described by travellers, questioning the ideological and epistemological backgrounds that shaped their representations, and deconstructing the positions of self and other in their Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, stated, "The recommendations from the Second Heritage Conference embody our vision at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, which aims to establish awareness of the importance of reading popular heritage from multiple perspectives, especially through the writings of travellers and Orientalists."Through this conference, we sought to initiate a critical intellectual dialogue with these records, opening new horizons for understanding the self and the other, and enhancing the presence of our heritage in the global cultural sphere with a scientific spirit and objective approach."
Sharjah 24
05-07-2025
- Sharjah 24
Heritage Conference recommends documentation of travel literature
Calls for contemporary critical analysis Participants urged a reevaluation of the writings of travelers and Orientalists using contemporary scientific criticism methodologies. They advocated for analytical comparisons between groups of travelers from various geographical regions and similar time periods to derive a more realistic portrayal and compare it with available local studies. Importance of practical laboratories The attendees emphasised the need to establish practical laboratories for translating Western research and studies on travel literature and forming scientific committees to review untranslated travel accounts, particularly Russian works. Extended conference duration and digital resources Among the recommendations was the proposal to extend the conference from two to three days and to publish the presented research in a scientific book. They also suggested creating an online library featuring works of travelers and Orientalists, along with a specialized database for researchers and translators in this field. Encouraging diverse critical studies The recommendations further called for stimulating critical studies addressing representations of the "other" in popular heritage through various approaches, including anthropology, semiotics, narratives, and post-colonial studies. Additionally, they highlighted the need to examine the interaction between oral and narrative cultures as described by travelers, questioning the ideological and epistemological backgrounds that shaped their representations and deconstructing the positions of self and other in their writings. Promoting heritage awareness Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, stated, "The recommendations from the Second Heritage Conference embody our vision at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, which aims to establish awareness of the importance of reading popular heritage from multiple perspectives, especially through the writings of travelers and Orientalists. Through this conference, we sought to initiate a critical intellectual dialogue with these records, opening new horizons for understanding the self and the other, and enhancing the presence of our heritage in the global cultural sphere with a scientific spirit and objective approach.
