Traditional Arabic storytelling ’Hakawati’ to promote cross-cultural awareness
The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) will take part in the Manchester International Festival this month, with a traditional Arabic storytelling session on Wednesday 8th July 2009. This unique event will be led by a professional al hakawati or storyteller, who will share a number of traditional tales from Arabic folk lore with primary students from schools within the city of Manchester.
The art of al hakawati is an age old craft that goes way back to ancient times and is still performed in the Arabic world today. Public performances are generally held in a select spot, either in the open air, on the street or in an evening café, from which the al hakawati regales the audience with some great sagas and most popular tales. The storyteller is often accompanied by musical instruments which add to the drama and help bring the tales to life.
This is the first year that ADMAF will be taking part in the Manchester International Festival, following the launch earlier this year of a new partnership with festival organisers which aims to explore the art of storytelling from the Unites Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, Egypt and the UK.
The al hakawati event will take place at the Manchester Art Gallery within the installation by renowned British Iraqi architect, Zaha Hadid, whose recent commissions in Abu Dhabi include the award-winning Sheikh Zayed bridge linking the island to the mainland, and the Performing Arts Centre within the new cultural district on Saadiyat Island.
Mrs. Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, said:
“As one of the UAE’s leading arts and cultural organisations, ADMAF is delighted to bring our storytelling programme to such an important and innovative public event as the Manchester International Festival. We are proud to be able to share a special part of Emirati culture with a new audience, in an environment that fosters and encourages creative learning.
“With such a strong educational mission, we are keen to build upon our participation over the next few years, both in Manchester and in Abu Dhabi, through a series of commissions, workshops and performances, which will culminate in the 2011 Festival. We are delighted to have the opportunity to join such a vast array of artists from around the world covering the cultural spectrum, and look forward to an ongoing relationship with the city of Manchester and the UK.”
The Manchester International Festival is the world’s first festival of original, new works and special events, held every two years in the UK. It was launched in 2007 as an artist-led, commissioning festival presenting new works from across the spectrum of performing arts, music, visual arts and popular culture. The Festival will run from 2-19 July 2009 at various venues across the city. The wide-ranging programme includes a variety of ticketed and free events, and is designed to be exhilarating, thought-provoking and welcoming to all. For more information on the event, please visit www.mif.co.uk
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