Culture Page - Issue 20

20 - May 14th thru May 20th 2001, Vol XI

Ideological Patrimony

The Yemeni society has undergone decades of ignorance and backwardness owing to illiteracy. This fact has made many Yemenis explain and interpret many accidents and phenomena by attributing them to supernatural powers. Their realization of a possible relation between these supernatural powers and some pious people make them regard the latter as potentially capable of fulfilling different purposes and needs.
Shrines and graves of saints and pious people have become hearthstones for many people in Abyan, Luhj, Zabid, etc., who believe in the ability of these dead people to render services such as recovery, protection, etc. On certain days, each year people flock to such shrines carrying a lot of offerings as communions. Some bring pieces of cloths and others distribute money and food to the poor. During the annual visit and camping of people near the shrines many activities are organized. These include lectures, religious songs, etc.
In some areas, on the last night a special kind of dance known as 'Jadhbat Al-Wali' (The Saint's Hysterical Dance) is performed. Dried sticks are gathered and burned until they turn into embers. Then a group of 4-5 half-naked and bare-footed people, holding Jinbias, start dancing on the embers. As the drum beats get louder and louder, dancers hysterically and maniacally begin stabbing their bodies, cut their tongues, etc., amidst the audience's amazement. This dance lasts for almost an hour. I asked one of the dancers why they didn't bleed while or after hurting themselves. He calmly replied that they stab themselves after they receive a signal from the dead 'Wali' who protects their bodies. If a dancer bleeds this means that he is not pure and that the Wali is not satisfied with him.
On the last day of the gathering, the attendants cover the shrine with a very precious silky cloth. They walk to the shrine carrying the cloth on a wooden board. This cloth is always green on which some verses from the Holy Quran are written.
In other areas, especially in the Tihamah, it has become a must for couples to visit the shrine of the dead holy man before marriage to ensure a smooth and happy life. Problems developing between couples are often attributed to not getting the blessings of the Wali.
A big segment of people in Zabid believe that the Wali, Ben Ojail, is still the protector and defender of the area. When the Imam Yahia Hamidaddin tried to conquer Bait Al-Faqih, the servant of the Shrine of Ben Ojail put guns and ammunition on the shrine and announced that the Wali was calling for resistance to the Imam. People fiercely countered the Imam who later destroyed the upper part of the shrine. The shrine was renovated later when the revolution ended.
It is to be stressed that such activities are not approved by Islam. There are many devout people who are blessed by God, but these can not bless others.

Culture In Abyan:
Lingering Worries and Long Pending Hopes

Saleh Abdulbaqi
Yemen Times
Cultural activities are of prime importance to any society. Yemeni society is rich in this field which has a great impact on the identity of our society. However, it is a pity that these activities have been in wane in the past few years. This has actually crippled the creative development of artists as it weakens the cultural movement and the arts in general. Cultural activities have become restricted to some national ceremonies and festivals.
I will spotlight the cultural activities in the governorate of Abyan. I met with Mr. Hussain Mohammed Naser, Cultural Office GM in Abyan, who gave a detailed account of the whole issue and all the issues related to it. He said "We carry out cultural activities as planned by the Ministry of Culture. There are some cultural, artistic, folklore and theatrical activities annually.
As a matter of fact, cultural heritage in the governorate is not alien from that in other governorates. It lacks attention and support. So as to fulfill our goals there should be adequate resources mobilized to raise the cultural sensitivity. This is not to diminish the currently held cultural activities but to stress the point that it is not up the standard. This under-performance is attributed to the low grants provided by the Ministry to the Cultural Offices in general. What is granted to the Cultural Office can hardly cover the administrative expenses. We have discussed this issue with the Ministry. However, there has so far not been any good omen for a change.
On the other hand, we highly appreciate the incentive of the governorate officials to carry out cultural and artistic activities every now and then. Moreover, the employees and members in the Abyan Cultural Office are an example of solidarity and enthusiasm. It is true that there are some artistic groups which have disappeared from Zunjbar, capital of Abyan. However, others are steadfastly serving the artistic mission. Activities of the office are still confined to the town of Zunjubar. Hence, the Cultural Office has a great responsibility to organize cultural festivals, publications, and refining talents. To that end the Ministry has to activate the cultural activities in the Ministry sub-offices in other governorates. If support is provided, we then can go beyond the boundaries of Zunjubar to cover all the districts of the governorate. We count highly on Mr. Abdulwahab al-Rawhani, Culture Minister, to address these problems. We are also optimistic that in the coming days there will be promising cultural activities in all the governorates of the Republic.
Abyan was among the pioneering governorates that has a remarkable theatrical tradition which has lasted for many years. Besides, it has a qualified cadre of actors, authors, and producers who graduated from the Fine Arts Institute in Aden. The cadre is working hard to implement cultural programs. However, they can achieve little whorthwhile for the afore mentioned reasons.
Artistic teams of Abyan's Cultural Office participated in some international and Arab festivals including the Soviet Union festival in 89 and 95, Babel exhibition in Iraq in 92 and 97 and al-Ismailiah festival in Egypt in 98. "We do hope that we will be able to participate this year in Babel festival which will be decided during our visit to the Ministry Office in Sana'a soon." The Ministry gives teams opportunities to participate. However, the governorate and the artistic teams have to bear all the expenses.
The Ministry has to draw up a centralized plan for all the offices in governorates which should be provided adequate financial support to carry out these activities. It has to make all the necessary resources available to make these activities a success. It also has to organize competitions among cultural offices to be on a better stead when selecting teams for national festivals or when representing Yemen outside the country.
Mr. Faisal Sufi, Culture GM, said that there were clear instructions by President Saleh to the Culture Minister to revive and cultivate the cultural activities in all the governorates.
The Ministry can certainly revive the backward and stagnant literary activities provided the Ministry has the will to do so.
In conclusion, if the Ministry does not make sincere efforts to revive the tradition of culture and art, this may lead to the loss of our precious cultural heritage. Besides, developing and supporting literary men and woman is very crucial since they are the main pillar of any literary movement in our country.

Captain of Indian Football team to YT:
"Luck was on the Yemeni Side"

The Indian football team played on Friday, 4 May a match with the Yemeni team in Al-Thawra Stadium of Sana'a. This visit by the Indian team came close on the heels of the Yemeni team's visit to India Both the matches ended in a draw. During a reception dinner hosted at Taj Sheba hotel, Sana'a', in honor of the visiting team, Dr. Ramakanta Sahu, met them and snatched a few moments from the hectic schedule of the team Captain Mr. Bhaichung Bhutia and the goalkeeper Mr. M. Balaji to file this interview.
Excerpts:

RKS: How would you assess your team's performance in the match with Yemen?
BB: Our players played with a lot of promise. But we were quite unlucky. We should have, in fact, come out with 3 points.

RKS: What in your estimation went wrong?
BB: Yemen scored two early goals and that put them on the lead over us. In the second half we started well. But unfortunately we could not cash in the opportunities available to us.

RKS: What will be you strategies for the forthcoming matches you are going to play in Brunei and other places?
BB: Well. We would like to maintain better coordination between the defense and the midfield players and not repeat the defense lapses.

RKS: Good luck to you and your team mates.
BB: Thank you.
RKS: Mr. Balaji. As the goalkeeper of the Indian team, what are your views about the outcome of the match?
MB: We had to win the match. But we conceded all the three goals. We played well. But luck was on their side.

RKS: How would you like to change your game plan?
MB: We have to give a better report about ourselves in defense as well as in the attack. Our scoring was good, but there is scope for improvement. Had Bhutia been there, we hope to have a better goal margin. We'll also miss him for the next match.

RKS: Why was Mr. Bhutia shown a red card?
MB: The Referee was pretty tough with him. It was an unfortunate eventuality. Yet we would try to do our best.

RKS: All our best wishes are with you for a glorious performance.
MB: Thanks a lot to you and the Yemen Times.