Yemen’s oral heritage heading to the grave

Ministry of Culture, Mohammed Abu Bakr al-Maflahi.

Much of Yemen’s history is based off centuries of accumulation of myths, legends, proverbs and poetry. Each part of our history was passed from generation to generation through storytelling and other oral methods. Yemen’s rich verbal heritage takes the same significance as other, more physical, great sites of antiquity such as the Sun Temple, the Ghamdan Palace or the Pelquis Throne.

However, times in Yemen are changing, and sadly those who are culturally and officially responsible for gathering and preserving this valuable treasure failing are turning a deaf ear, as to say. The Ministry of Culture,  Mohammed Abu Bakr al-Maflahi is causing the rich oral history now fade because it is stored only in the memories of a few individuals, passing our history with them. 

As Yemenis, it is our duty to preserve the consciousness and increase our awareness of our rich history and to fight the apathy of this latent cultural coma. 

There are, however, a handful of Yemeni scholars laboring valiantly to document and capture some of this fading legacy, yet researchers such as Arwa Osman of the Heritage House and Omar al-Najar of the Orient Establishment House cannot keep pace with the quickly vanishing narrators. They say that the Ministry of Culture’s attitude is questionable and at best it is indifferent, making no investment or effort to save such national treasures.

Looking abroad, there are prospects of help from the international organizations whom are more prepared to offer their services and expertise to preserving Yemen’s ancient heritage. Academics, Dr. al-Qadisi and Amar al-Najar, voiced proposals for schemes that would see international bodies work in partnership with relevant government authorities to establish a joint humanitarian project. 

As hopeful as Dr. al-Qadisi and al-Najar are, they have many obstacles to clear from  local agencies and the Ministry of Culture before their plans can become reality. 

Through the Yemen Observer, we voice this desperate address that all relevant organizations and authorities whom are represented by the Ministry of Culture help to rescue our threatened history and heritage before it is too late and makes its way to the grave.

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