The regionally acclaimed storyteller Ahmed Yousef and his talented troupe returned to the Abu Dhabi Festival in 2011 this week, performing a fabulous interpretation of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves for communities across Abu Dhabi’s Western Region. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Festival is committed to empowering people in communities across the Emirates to explore their heritage and the traditional arts.

Inspired by the stories of ‘One Thousand and One Nights’, the Hakawati tour performed in Madinat Zayed, Mirfa and Ghayathi in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, ensuring that communities across the emirates are inspired by the Festival in 2011. Putting a modern, contemporary twist on this traditional pastime, Hakawati, played by Yousef, reads the tales from an old book, whilst the performance is brought to life around him, through movement and words.

‘Hakawati’ Ahmed Yousef said: “It is truly a great honour for us, as a group of storytellers, to be involved in the Abu Dhabi Festival. This is a unique event which celebrates both the most famous and successful art forms on the global level as well as taking an interest in reviving the artistic heritage of the region and the UAE. We are honoured to give this very traditional part of our artistic heritage a contemporary shape.

Her Excellency Mrs. Hoda I Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “The Abu Dhabi Festival is a festival that reaches out across the country to share the unifying spirit of the arts, music and culture. Community is right at the heart of everything we do. Storytelling has been an intrinsic part of our culture and way of life for generations. It is absolutely delightful to be able to bring the traditional stories of Arabia to life for a new generation to enjoy. Through our community programme each year we celebrate the spirit of ‘Bilad Al Khayr’ – the ‘Land of Blessings’ that is the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Our community programme throughout the Festival aims to embed the arts at every level and provide new opportunities to explore the UAE’s cultural assets.”

Alongside reviving the art of Arabic storytelling, the Hakawati tour aims to empower people across the Western Region communities, develop hidden talents and to provide people with new opportunities to get involved in community-based projects that serve the wider UAE.

The art of storytelling has been celebrated in several formats during the Festival in 2011. American storytellers Margaret Wolfson and the Cross Culture Group presented a series of forums and workshops across the Emirates discussing the magic of storytelling and the history of storytelling in different countries and cultures. In a special performance last week at the Abu Dhabi Theatre Wolfson was joined by conductor Michael Ching for an evening entitled ‘Sharing Stories, Telling Tales’, which seamlessly blended storytelling with moving music and charming scenery. The performance celebrated numerous traditions of storytelling including Japanese, Arabian, Greek Mythology amongst others and aimed to embed inspiration and innovation between the UAE’s culturally diverse communities.
 

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