Culture of Qatar

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The culture of Qatar is strongly influenced by traditional Bedouin culture, with less acute influence deriving from India, East Africa and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf. The peninsula's harsh climatic conditions compelled its inhabitants to turn to the sea for sustenance. Thus, there is a distinct emphasis placed on the sea in local culture.^[1] Literature and folklore themes are often related to sea-based activities.

Oral arts such as poetry and singing were historically more prevalent than figurative art because of the restrictions placed by Islam on depictions of sentient beings; however, certain visual art disciplines such as calligraphy, architecture and textile arts were widely practiced. Figurative arts were gradually assimilated into the country's culture during the oil era.^[2]

Since July 1 2008, Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari has been the Minister for Culture, Arts and Heritage of Qatar.

Visual arts

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

Because of Islam's stance on figurative art, paintings and plastic arts played a relatively insignificant role in Qatari culture until the discovery of oil in the mid-20th century.^[3] Other visual arts such as calligraphy and architecture were the most historically dominant forms of Islamic visual expression. Calligraphy was most prized in society because of its close connection with Islam.^[4] Calligraphy is often used in the design of official state logos, for example, the Qatar National Vision 2030 logo.^[5]

Art exhibitions were held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education until 1972, whereupon the state began providing its full support to the art scene. The Qatari Fine Arts Society was established in 1980 with the objective of promoting the works of Qatari artists.^[6] Yousef Ahmad is a leading figure of Qatar's art industry and regularly represents the country at international biennials and events. His art work has been displayed internationally.^[7]

For the last twenty years, several members of the Al Thani family have led Qatar’s interest and involvement into the field of arts and continue to shape the cultural policy of the country.^[8] Qatar was revealed to be the world's biggest art buyer in 2011 by The Art Newspaper.^[9]

Poetry

Poetry has been an integral part of the culture since pre-Islamic times.^[10] Qatari ibn al-Fuja'a, a folk hero dating to the seventh-century, was renowned for writing poetry.^[11] It was seen as a verbal art which fulfilled essential social functions. Having a renowned poet among its ranks was a source of pride for tribes; it is the primary way in which age-old traditions are passed down generations. Poems composed by females primarily focused on the theme of ritha, to lament. This type of poetry served as an elegy.^[10]

Nabati was the primary form of oral poetry. In the nineteenth-century, sheikh Jassim Al Thani composed influential Nabati poems on the political conditions in Qatar.^[12] Nabati poems are broadcast on radio and televised in the country.^[13]

Literature

The modern literature movement in Qatar began in the 1970s.^[14] Unlike most other forms of art in Qatari society, females have been involved in the literature movement on a similar magnititude to males.^[15] In the 1970s, much of the early work of females revolved around ritha poems which were published in local newspapers.^[16] Kaltham Gaber was the first Qatari female writer to publish a major work when she released a book containing an anthology of short stories she wrote between 1973 and 1978.^[17]

Music

Traditional Qatari male dancers

The folk music of Qatar has a close association with the sea. Songs related to pearl hunting are the most popular genre of male folk music. Each song, varying in rhythm, narrates a different activity of the pearling trip, including spreading the sails, diving, and rowing the ships. Collective singing was an integral part of each pearling trip, and each ship had a designated singer, known locally as al naham.^[18]

Ardah, a folkloric dance, is still practiced in Qatar.^[19] The dance is performed with two rows of men opposite of one another, each of whom may or may not be wielding a sword, and is accompanied by drums and spoken poetry.^[20]

Women primarily sang work songs associated with daily activities such as wheat grinding and cooking. The songs were performed collectively in small groups some pertained to general themes, whereas others were related to specific work processes.^[21] Women would also sing when returning pearl ships were sighted.^[18] After a sighting was made, they would gather around the seashore where they would clap and sing about the hardships of pearl diving.^[21]

Dress

Qatari men wear thawbs (a long white shirt) over loose pants. They also wear a loose headdress, a ghutra, which comes in white or red and white. Females wear a long black dress known as an abaya. They cover their head with a shayla and sometimes conceal their face with a burqa.^[22]

Media

There are currently seven newspapers in circulation in Qatar, with four being published in Arabic and three being published in English.^[23] Additionally, there are nine magazines.^[24]

All radio programmes from Qatar are state-owned and are amalgamated as the Qatar Broadcasting Service.^[25] Radio broadcasting in the country began in June 1968 and English transmissions started in December 1971^[26] in order to accommodate the increasing non-Arabic speaking expat community.^[27][28] The QBS currently features radio stations in English, Arabic, French and Urdu.^[29]

Al Jazeera, currently Qatar's largest television network, was founded in 1996 and has since become the foundation of the media sector.^[30] Initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel, Al Jazeera has since expanded into a network with several outlets, including the internet and specialty TV channels in multiple languages. The 'Al Jazeera effect' refers to the global impact of the Al Jazeera Media Network, particularly on the politics of the Arab world.^[31]

Holidays

Qatar's weekends are Friday and Saturday.^[32] Qatar National Day was changed from 3 September to 18 December in 2008.^[33] Notable holidays in the country are listed below:

Sport

National anthem being performed prior to an Emir Cup final.

Football is the most popular sport in regard to player base and spectatorship. Additionally, athletics, basketball, handball, volleyball, camel racing, horse racing, cricket and swimming are widely practiced.^[34] There are currently 11 multi-sports clubs in the country, and 7 single-sports clubs.^[34]

Prior to the introduction of football, traditional games played were al dahroi, al sabbah, and taq taq taqiyyah for boys, and al kunatb, al laqfah and nat al habl for girls.^[35] Variations of a family of board games known as mancala were played in previous decades. Two of the most popular board games were a’ailah and al haluwsah.^[35] Other traditional sports practiced in the country include falconry, camel racing and hunting.^[36]

Food and drink

Qatari cuisine reflects traditional Arab and Levantine cuisine.^[37] It is also heavily influenced by Iranian and Indian cuisine. Seafood and dates are staple food items.^[38] Machbūs, a meal consisting of rice, meat, and vegetables, is the national dish.^[37]

Alcohol is not illegal in Qatar, but its sale and consumption is heavily regulated. Muslims are prohibited from purchasing and consuming alcohol. A liquor license is required to buy alcohol.^[39]

Television

The multinational media conglomerate Al Jazeera Media Network is based in Doha with its wide variety of channels of which Al Jazeera Arabic, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, Al Jazeera Mubasher, beIN Sports Arabia and other operations are based in the TV Roundabout in the city.

Al Jazeera Arabic Building

Terrestrial television

Terrestrial television stations now available on Nilesat include:

Pay television

• Teledunet
• Mozaic TV
• MyHD
• Mivo TV
• Palapa D
• Sky

Radio

Doha has a variety of radio stations, some of which include:

See also

• Katara (cultural village)
• Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage (Qatar)

References

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