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