Pearling Heritage

Story of our pearling heritage...

In a special ceremony marking Bahrain’s ascent to an artistic position of ‘Manama: Cultural Capital of the Arab World 2012’, the kingdom’s culture connoisseurs and royal guests made their way to the shores of the sea next to the National Museum in Manama.

They witnessed a memorable extravaganza last Thursday evening entitled Path of Pearls: A Contemporary Artistic Production in one of the grandest settings seen in recent times.

A special stage built on the sea was akin to an inverted hull of a boat behind which there was a large screen providing a multi-media visual representation of the music and dance performances.





Sheikh Isa...

Walter Bibikow

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The audience, which included His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal were treated to a magical musical tour which retold the story of the kingdom’s pearling heritage.

Nature added to the live effect with a spine-chilling breeze that blew the best hairstyles out of place and many a performer struggled to keep their flowing attire from being blown away.

Minister of Culture Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa opened the ceremony with an address that included a special tribute to the country’s leadership for their support in revitalising the culture and heritage of Bahrain. She also stressed the importance of the event in reflecting a modern Bahrain and embedding it with the spirit of love and peace through art and culture.

Organisers said that the contemporary artistic extravaganza was based on a vision that brings together local creative ensembles and their western counterparts. Together they depicted the nostalgic portraits from the past, revived the memory of the place in the minds of people and created a hope for the future.

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