Cultural Institutions and Yemeni Intellectual (V) Interviews with Yemeni Literary Symbols [Archives:2001/03/Culture]

Mohammed Al-Hakimi
Yemen Times – Taiz

After having the first three episodes of this series on Yemeni intellectuals published, YT received many letters regarding this issue.
Here are some of those letters:
Nagla Al-Umary, a poet and storywriter. They say when a messenger comes, you see a small cloud of dust first, the horse then the messenger. We are waiting to see the good future of culture in Yemen, but nothing can be seen yet. Will we ever be fortunate enough to see the messenger. She also said for the time being, keeping some hope in the future is enough, but dual understanding, accepting other opinions and realizing cultural make enough room for everybody keep the cloud of dust away. I think that the number of female writers is increasing in time. Many female writers became well-known in the nineties.
Mohammed Abdul-Wakeel Jazem, a writer. the relationship between Yemeni intellectual and private cultural establishments is almost nonexistent. We know many profound writers suffering from ignorance. The situation of Yemeni intellectuals can be summarized in the following:
– Some Yemeni intellectuals are very poor and cannot meet the needs of life because they have their own point of view and never sell their dignity and beliefs.
– Some others preferred to glorify the government in their writings. These writers may have money, but they lost their independent viewpoint and identity.
The cultural situation in Yemen is part of the situation of the weakening culture in the Arab World. Innovation in the Arab world is developing slowly, part of which is the cultural innovation in Yemen. Generally speaking, innovation is strongly tied to social development, which is extremely slow in Yemen.
Abdul-Salam Othman, Director of Alebdaa Cultural establishment, and author of Mareb, a relatively famous book of the Yemeni library collection, said We thank YT, Taiz Bureau for their efforts in introducing our Yemeni culture. Most cultural establishment work independently with almost no help whatsoever from the government. All what the government does is grant permission to the establishments to operate. The increasing number of private cultural establishments nowadays is a healthy phenomenon, which will no doubt, contribute to the development of our cultural situation.
Ahmed Al.Shalafi, a poet, said what is required now is not issuing permissions and accommodating offices without some real work that could contribute effectively to the development of Yemeni culture. Al-Shalafi also gave examples of successful cultural establishments, such as the Sanaa-based Al-Afif Cultural Establishment, which is considered among the most active in Yemen. Yemeni intellectuals mostly depend on their own efforts to gain the fame and public support needed. Our problem is not the absence of creative intellectuals, but the absence of supporting establishments.
Abdul-Rahman Al.Humaidi, Public Relations Manager at the Yemeni Union for Culture and Arts (TAIF), said, cultural establishments are considered the link between intellectuals and the general public. But let there be no doubt, these establishments need the support from the government and from the public, otherwise they may stop being effective and eventually die out.
He added women are not and should not be isolated from the cultural movement taking place in Yemen at all. Yemeni female intellectuals have participated greatly in many cultural activities. In fact, many of them received more support and attention than their male colleagues. It was this care that helped some women become quite famous and prominent. I believe the Ministry of Culture should do a lot to help Yemeni intellectuals and hence, accelerate the development process of the Yemeni culture. The Ministry of Culture, unfortunately, is not aware of the potential in Yemeni intellectuals. In fact, there is no kept record or contact information for these intellectuals. The ministry simply knows nothing about them, but does a lot of lip service in this aspect. We still hope that the ministry convert its words and promises into practical action.
Abdul-Ghani Al.Maqrami, a poet and journalist said, the increasing number of cultural establishments represents a good step forward, but the presence of those establishments is not enough to promote culture in the country. Many of these establishments could not gain the trust of the public, especially after the public had lost hope in the governmental cultural establishments. The challenge of attracting the public to traditional cultural events has become increasingly difficult for the new generation especially as the new information technologies, such as the Internet and digital communications started emerging.
I believe that the competition between some of our cultural establishments and the new communication technology is a losing match in favor of the new technology. The current cultural innovation in Yemen is part of a larger cultural innovation in the Arab world. I also believe that there is a powerful direction towards shallow culture. Arabic satellite channels enhances this attitude. In addition to that, our educational establishments like schools and universities are unable to stop the diffusion in other cultures, which in the end will lead to the elimination of the good aspects of the Yemeni culture. Nobody can deny that there is a cultural movement in Yemen, but this movement is still immature for disregarding many distinguished talents and instead showing distorted models.
As for female intellectuals, many have dedicated themselves to one sole issue which is womens rights, and the relationship between men and women. Many women writers are obsessed by the so-called unjust treatment of men to women, and hence that is almost all they write about. I believe they should dedicate more time to other cultural issues, otherwise it would truly be a potential waste.
The overall conclusion that we came with after the interviews that we are in a critical stage in which culture is slowly losing its ground. All interviewed intellectuals agree that we must act fast before it is too late.
So loud the cries of pain
So much my land does gain
Does wait for a world of hope
But alas! Does wane and wane
 

——
[archive-e:03-v:2001-y:2001-d:2001-01-15-p:./2001/iss03/culture.htm]