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BUQSHA
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AFRA ATIQ
We chose to call this section ‘Buqsha’ (see below for meaning) as it is
dedicated to exploring various elements of Emirati culture and traditions.
هعبرم هعطق نوكتو شامقلا نم ةرصلا يه :هشقب ىنعم
.ايمدق سبلالما اهب عضوت
Buqsha: an old word used to
describe a square shaped piece of cloth. It
was used to carry various items such as
groceries, clothes and other items.
Traditional Dance in the UAE
Traditional male dances in the UAE are an integral part of the country’s
culture. Traditionally, dance in the UAE has expressed joy and marked
special occasions within the tribes. It took a great deal of physical strength
and fitness to perform them, so the dances also offered an opportunity for
men to showcase their physical abilities. For this reason Al Ayyalah, Al Yollah
and Al Herbiya were also used as techniques to ward off other tribes.
Al Ayyalah ةلايعلا
Is a victory dance. It symbolizes the defeat of an enemy and can be done
with a large group of men. The men stand in two rows facing each other,
and then each man interlocks his arm with the man beside him, while
wielding a camel stick (A’assa) or sword in the other hand. Both rows
move back and forth depicting advances and retreats. They declare
challenges and boast their strengths in poetic verses to the beat of drums.
Al Yollah ةلويلا
Is a play-by-play recount of the events of battle to those who were not
there. It is an all-male dance performed using sticks, swords or rifles.
It is performed between two rows of men simultaneously performing
Al Ayyalah. Al Yollah can be done by one, two or four men at the same
time. Moving around the center of the Al Ayyalah dancers, the Yawweel
(dancer) throws up his weapon as high as he can and catches it before it
touches the ground. Al Yollah is performed to the beat of a drum or the
rhythmic recital of poetry, depending on the tribe of the Yaweel. As an art
form, Al Yollah has been around for more than two hundred years. Al Yollah
also became a means of showing a particular tribe’s strength on the battle
field. Today, it is performed with a much lighter mock rifle and is one of
the more popular forms of traditional dance in the UAE.
Al Herbiya ةيبرلحا
Is a dance to show bravery and get ready for battle. It’s similar to Al Ayyalah but
performed solely to the recitation of poetry or Al Shallah.
Sheikh Zayed performing traditional
dances. Ramesh Shukla/The UAE the
formative Years (Book)
Men performing traditional dance. Gulf News: Rise of a Nation (Book)
Emirati Proverbs
رشلا نطب يف ريلخا
Al-khair fi batn al-sharr
“Goodness in the heart (belly) of evil.”
This proverb is said of things, circumstances, events or people that
at first appear bad or ominous but eventually prove to be good or lead
to desirable results.
راد لصوت ام ةليلحا
Al-hila matwassil dar
“Trickery opens no doors.”
This proverb simply says that trickery or deceit does not pay.
دامر فلخي رميلا
Al-Yamer yikhallif ramad
“Charcoal yields ash.”
Parents should not always be blamed for the bad deeds of a wicked son
or daughter since bad nature may overpower good upbringing and nurture.
تاه نامزلا كل لوقيا ينل تاتلحا ظفحا
Ihfadh al-hitat lein-i-goullak al-zaman hat
This is advice to not discard things that seem to have little or no value for
they may prove useful in the future.
http://www.visitabudhabi.ae/en/our.heritage/poverbs.and.sayings.aspx