‘Spirit of the Union’ Parade through the Streets of Fujairah

The ‘Spirit of the Union’ Parade commenced this morning at 8.30am.

It started from the Fujairah Municipality and went to the Fujairah Centre for the Ministry of Culture Youth and Community Development.

There was participation in the parade from all the official departments in Fujairah’s Municipality and the Emiri Court but overwhelmingly it was a parade of children who looked cute and resplendent in their national colours.

All the Fujairah elementary schools (Grades 1-6) participated and loved the chance to walk on the streets.

The Fujairah Police were at the parade and their marching band provided the music and some drama.

The Spirit of the Union

The broad theme of the 40^th UAE National Day activities is the ‘Spirit of the Union’. Today’s celebration was an opportunity to rejoice in the spirit that ties us all together in the United Arab Emirates.

In the writings of the 40^th National Day Organizing Committee this spirit enables millions of people to coexist and build their lives together.

This spirit:

* Comes in part from the late Sheikh Zayed and his vision and legacy.

* Binds together all the faces and places that make up this wonderful country.

* Connects us all under one banner, one flag, but with many voices.

* Celebrates our culture and heritage.

* Shapes our future.

* Is even stronger after 40 years as a nation.

+ It connects our history with our future.

+ It is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago.

+ It has lived for 40 years and it will continue to live on.

+ It is a spirit that can be shared across our cosmopolitan community and a spirit that everyone can play a role in sustaining.

+ Each person defines, shapes and shares this spirit in their own way.

-40^th UAE National Day Strategy, page 11.

Take a Look

Some photos snapped on the streets of Fujairah by those parading are posted in this photo album.

Further

The entire program (Arabic and English) of the UAE 40^th National Day activities in Fujairah can be downloaded from links on this page.

Geoff Pound

More Fujairah news, resources, information and photos are posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: “Overwhelmingly it was a parade of children who looked cute and resplendent in their national colours.

Arabian Horses Add to Fujairah Heritage and UAE National Day Festivities (English & Arabic)

History Past and Present

A new feature of this year’s Al Saif Traditional Championship and Fujairah Heritage Festival is the showing on three occasions of some of the best Arabian horses in the land.

This will also signify history in the making because it will be the first festival of Arabian horses in the emirate of Fujairah.

The Arabian horse has been an essential part of local heritage in the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula for thousands of years. It’s speed, beauty, endurance, strength, good nature and swiftness to learn has led to it to be exported and prized all over the world.

Local Committee

Local horse owner and trainer, Ali Musabah Al Kaabi (pictured), has formed an Organizing Committee of 10-12 people.

Great Interest

Ali Al Kaabi said that since the Fujairah events have been publicized much interest has been shown from owners around the UAE.

More than 40 owners will be bringing their horses to the new Fujairah Fort showground. Some of the horses will come from distinguished Arabian horse studs including those from stables owned by His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah.

Three Main Events

There will be three main opportunities to see the Arabian Horses in Fujairah:

On Friday 18 November, commencing soon after 6pm, there will be the first horse show. Approximately 10 horses from the UAE’s East Coast will display their steps around the showground. Riders will be presented in the traditional dress for riding Arabian horses.

A major Arabian Horse Exhibition is scheduled for Friday 25 November. It will commence with a photo session at 4pm and the actual show will start soon after 6pm. It will include judging and the awarding of generous prizes.

More than 50 horses will be exhibited coming mainly from the UAE east coast as well as from Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Abu Dhabi.

Ali Al Kaabi said that many of the horses coming to Fujairah have won prizes in international shows, notably in the United Kingdom.

The third and final Arabian Horse Show is timed for Friday 2 December, commencing soon after 6pm. It will be similar in format to the 18 November show but it will be more informative and educational as owners and commentators speak about the qualities and values of the Arabian horses.

Enquiries

For more information and any query relating to the Arabian horse events in Fujairah please phone or email. Contact details at the following link.

الخيول العربية .. إضافة رائعة لاحتفالات إمارة الفجيرة التراثية والوطنية

خلفية تاريخية

تعتبر عروض الخيل العربية الأصيلة التي ستقام خلال ثلاثة أيامٍ مختلفة من أهم فعاليات بطولة السيف ومهرجان الفحيرة التراثي لهذا العام، ويعتبر هذا الحدث الأول من نوعه في إمارة الفجيرة التي لم يسبق أن أقيم بها عروض أو مسابقات للخيول العربية الأصيلة.

ومنذ آلاف السنين، والحصان العربي يحتل حيزاً هاماً من التراث الشعبي لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة وكافة بلدان شبه الجزيرة العربية. فقد أدت سرعة هذا الحصان وجماله وتحمله، وقوته وطبيعته وسرعة تعلمه إلى تصديره والحرص على اقتنائه في جميع أنحاء العالم.

لجنة محلية

شكّل علي مصبح الكعبي، الذي يقتني عدداً من الخيول ويقوم بتربيتها وتدريبها، لجنة تنظيم من 10-12 شخصاً، وتتضمن هذه اللجنة شخصيات ذات خبرة عالية في مجال الخيول العربية الأصيلة.

اهتمام كبير

صرّح علي الكعبي بأن مالكي الخيول في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة أبدوا اهتماماً كبيراُ ورغبة في المشاركة بعد الإعلان عن الفعاليات الخاصة بالخيول والمقامة في إمارة الفجيرة، وسوف يقوم أكثر من 40 مالكاُ للخيول بجلب خيولهم إلى ميدان العرض في قلعة الفجيرة. ومن ضمن الخيول المشاركة خيول عربية أصيلة من اسطبلات صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم، نائب رئيس الدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء حاكم دبي، وسمو الشيخ محمد بن حمد الشرقي، ولي عهد إمارة الفجيرة.

ثلاثة فعاليات رئيسية

ستقام عروض الخيل العربية الأصيلة خلال ثلاثة أيام مختلفة:

العرض الأول للخيول يوم الجمعة 18 نوفمبر بعد الساعة السادسة مساءاً، حيث سيتم عرض ما يقارب 10 خيول من الساحل الشرقي لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة في ميدان العرض، وسيقوم الفرسان بارتداء الزي الشعبي الخاص بركوب الخيل.

مسابقة جمال الخيول العربية الأصيلة ستقام يوم الجمعة 25 نوفمبر، وسيبدأ العرض بجلسة تصوير في الساعة الرابعة مساءاُ بينما سيكون العرض الرئيسي بعد الساعة السادسة مساءاً، وسيتخلله التحكيم وتوزيع جوائز سخية على الفائزين. يشارك في العرض أكثر من 50 خيلاً معظمها من الساحل الشرقي بالإضافة إلى خيول دبي والشارقة وعجمان وأبوظبي.

وقال علي الكعبي بأن الكثير من الخيول التي تنتمي لإمارة الفجيرة سبق وفازت بجوائز عالمية وبالأخص في المملكة المتحدة.

سيقام ثالث وآخر عروض الخيل العربية الأصيلة يوم الجمعة 2 ديسمبر، بعد الساعة السادسة مساءاً، وسيكون مشابهاً للعرض المقام بتاريخ 18 نوفمبر ولكن بشكل تعليمي أكثر حيث سيتحدث مالكو الخيول ومدربيهم عن جودة وصفات الخيول العربية الأصيلة.

الاستفسار

للمزيد من المعلومات وللاستفسار حول فعاليات الخيول العربية الأصيلة في قلعة الفجيرة، يرجى الاتصال بمكتب بطولة السيف على الرقم 0501919190 أو عبر البريد الالكتروني info@mhm.ae

HCT Fujairah Launches LEQA Business Network

Press of the Button

With a press of the button Dr. Dave Pelham, Director of the Higher Colleges of Technology-Fujairah, launched ‘LEQA’, a new business network initiative for the eastern emirate.

‘LEQA’ has two meanings: In Arabic it means ‘Get Together’ so this is a group that will meet monthly to connect experienced entrepreneurs with young, hopeful entrepreneurs to “inspire their minds and ignite their desire to start a business and network with the business community.”

‘LEQA’ is also an acronym—Learning from Entrepreneurs through Questions and Answers—which indicates the interactive format of the upcoming networking events.

Entrepreneurship Expressed

The gathering at the HCT’s multipurpose hall this evening (16 November 2011) was initiated, hosted and led by students of the Women’s College.

The brains and hard work to create the successful event was attributed to some entrepreneurial students in the FWC Bachelor Year 4, Accounting Class—Alanoud Al Manaseer, Amnah Saif Al Bedwawi, Khadeyh Abdouli, Mozah Yammahi, Amna Essa Massoud, Khadeijah Al Kendi and Mozah Obaid Yammahi.

In his welcome and introductory remarks, Dave Pelham acknowledged and congratulated the women for working hard to develop tonight’s event and establish the new business network.

Entrepreneurial Story

Mr. Qais Sedki was the guest speaker who addressed the inaugural LEQA meeting.

He chose not to tell his story of how he founded a publishing business (Pageflip Publishing), why he threw in his safe job in IT for the risky world of writing and publishing classical Arabic novels in Japanese manga style or how he survived to tell the tale.

He decided to concentrate on his audience and stated that the success of his speech would be determined by “one person starting to get the wheels moving and saying to themselves, ‘I never thought about this before. Maybe there’s something in this entrepreneurship for me’.”

Sedki shot holes in the rich entrepreneurial stereotype and defined an entrepreneur as one who is prepared to take risks in order to focus on doing what they are absolutely passionate about.

In the Q & A time after his speech he was asked what might be the best business to commence if you had Dhs 5,000 to invest. Qais wisely said that the money is one of the last things that should determine the nature of your new business. “Better,” he said, “to picture that you have a blank cheque and that you start with what you are passionate about and then develop a business plan that will include having the necessary money to fund the new business.” In his own experience he has been motivated not by the aim of starting a thriving business but by doing something that will bring positive change to the world.

In his frank and confessional style Sedki stated that entrepreneurs need to take baby steps while taking the long view to get their business up and running. “It’s about failure and falling,” he said. “We must value shortcomings. If we believe wholeheartedly in what we are doing we will carry on despite our failings and regardless of the negative comments that others will inevitably make.”

Successful Night?

Tonight could be judged a successful start if measured by the numbers who attended, the food that was enjoyed, the mailing list that was established and the networking that happened around the tables.

But only time will tell if the launch of LEQA meets the Sedki Success Test—if one young woman or man declares ‘Maybe there’s something in this entrepreneurship for me’ and goes on to follow their passion, opt for the uncomfortable route and establish a business that will change the world and make a positive contribution to humankind.

Mabrook!

Congratulations to HCT-Fujairah on the launch of LEQA and gifting this networking initiative to the emirate of Al Fujairah.

Mark Your Calendar

The next meeting of LEQA is on 18 January 2012 with guest speaker, Mayor Greg Fisher. Mayor Fisher is an entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist who was elected Louisville’s 50^th Mayor on 2 November 2010.

Mayor Fisher is the founder of SerVend International, Iceberg Ventures, bCatalyst. He is host of a television series called ‘Intro to Entrepreneurship’.

Geoff Pound

More Fujairah news, information, resources and photos are posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: Qais Sedki, not in his own terms a ‘successful entrepreneur’ but a self-confessed risk taker who is intent on having fun while changing the world.

Remembrance Day Service at Dhadnah, Fujairah

Twenty-four members of the Royal Air Force, plus a padre and a couple of reporters joined yesterday (15 November 2011) in a memorial service down an unmarked dusty road in a remote area north of Dhadnah, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

No one who gathered around the grave knew the serviceman personally for he was the navigator on a Wellington bomber that crashed on this site almost 70 years earlier.

Squadron-Leader Chris Jackson had arranged this brief memorial service as part of the annual Remembrance Day commemorations for his team that is currently based in the UAE.

The service led by a RAF chaplain was simple yet significant at the gravesite between the sea and the rugged Hajar Mountains. The ceremony had stories, scripture readings, prayers, silence, the strains of the bugle, poetry, the laying of a group wreath, the placing of the symbolic poppies and the taking of photos.

We Will Remember Them

The service guided by the padre involved:

+ Remembering Sgt. William Donnelly who did not survive when the plane crashed on its way between Sharjah and Karachi. (His story is told in detail at this link.)

+ Remembering the fragility and transient nature of life.

+ Remembering the crew that buried Billy, their anxiety in waiting four days to be rescued and the gift of mateship.

+ Remembering that war is made up of individual acts of service and sacrifice, as epitomized in the story of Sergeant Donnelly.

+ Remembering that whether we are memorialized or our contribution goes unnoticed, we are never forgotten by our Creator.

+ Remembering to live fully and conscious of the legacy that we are leaving behind.

Joining With Others

The padre helped the small group who gathered at Dhadnah to forge a link with the great host of others around the world who remembered the fallen on Armistice Day (11 November) as he shared these lines from ‘The Ode of Remembrance’:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Take a Look

Some photos taken at the memorial service are posted in this photo album.

Further

Remembering Sgt. William Donnelly in Dhadnah, Fujairah, FIF, 10 November 2011.

Geoff Pound

More Fujairah news, resources and photos are posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: Squadron-Leader, Chris Jackson (far right) gathering his team for the service of remembrance at Dhadnah, Fujairah, UAE at 11.00am on 15 November 2011.

Fujairah Photo Contest Has Heritage and UAE National Day Theme

Snaffle a Prize

Everybody with a modern phone is a photographer these days and the cameras were out aplenty for the opening weekend of the Al Saif Championship and Fujairah Heritage Festival.

So why not submit some of your photographs into the photo contest and see whether you can snaffle one or two of the generous prizes donated to winners by His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah?

Submit in Three Categories

This year you can submit up to seven photos into each category:

1. Al Saif Sword Championship

2. Arabian Horse Show

3. General Emirati Heritage and Culture

You cannot get more than one place in each category but you could get first in each category or a first, second and a third!

What the Judges Might Look For

This year with the Al Saif Championship and heritage activities being strongly linked with the UAE 40^th National Day you would think the judges would be looking, especially in photos related to the third category, for photographs that depict something of our UAE national identity, pride and passion.

Children Get Clicking

The festival is very much focused on children and on their performance and participation so children should be in the forefront when it comes to this photographic competition.

More Information

For all the details relating to the rules of the photographic competition download these documents in Arabic or English.

For more on the Al Saif Championship and Fujairah Heritage Festival go to the Facebook Page for the latest info.

Geoff Pound

More Fujairah news, information, reports and photos are posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: Photography is a family affair in the Nambiar household. Here at the Al Saif Championship last weekend, Alan Nambiar is trying to get a better angle while Kitana is checking to see the photo she has just taken.

New Networking Event in Fujairah for Entrepreneurs and Business People

Press Release from Fujairah’s Higher College of Technology

Launch of LEQA

HCT-Fujairah is excited to announce details of the launch of its entrepreneurship event, 'LEQA', that takes place on Wednesday 16^th November 2011 at 6pm at Fujairah Women's College.

Taking place during Global Entrepreneurship Week, the event will provide new and experienced entrepreneurs alike with the opportunity to network with each other and listen to an array of public speakers and presentations.

Get Together

LEQA is Arabic and stands for "get together". Its acronym translates into "Learning from Entrepreneurs through Questions & Answers." With this in mind, HCT-Fujairah is thrilled to welcome Mr. Qais Sedki as guest speaker for the evening. As the founder and managing director of Pageflip Publishing, an independent Dubai-based publishing house with both national and international acclaim that focuses on producing original content classical Arabic graphic novels in traditional Japanese manga format; Mr Sedki brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Networking Event

Above all, the aim of the event is to encourage successful entrepreneurs to discuss their own experiences of the business environment and industry and engage in a question and answer session. A networking activity follows where entrepreneurs can meet to share, inspire, energize and ignite new business ideas.

LEQA events will feature regularly at HCT-Fujairah, with the next event scheduled for January 18^th 2012.

Open Invitation

This evening is open to all—new and experienced business people who look forward to participate in networking.

More Fujairah news, information and photos are posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Bull Butting at the Fujairah Fort (English and Arabic)

Bovine Heritage

Bull butting at the Fujairah Fort is an important heritage feature of the Al Saif Traditional Sword Championship and Heritage Festival from 11 November through to the 16 December 2011.

During these weeks bull butting will also continue in its usual venue on the Fujairah corniche.

New Arena

Twenty-two bulls made their first appearance last Friday (11/11/11) in the new showground, to the left as you drive from the roundabout toward the Fujairah Fort.

Coordinator of the bull butting at the Fort, Yazeed Al Nuaimi, said that old and young men were very positive about the new arena. He added,

“They loved it. It is safer here because the bars around the arena are high and sturdy and there’s no way that a bull will jump the fence and get among the crowd.”

Others commented that the new arena provided good shade from the sun. People loved the way they could see the Hajar Mountains in one direction and in the other, the bulls fighting against the sensational backdrop of the ancient fort.

The powerful lighting could make it possible for the bull butting to continue into the evening.

The most talked-about feature was that the Al Saif Championship and heritage festival is a ‘one-stop shop’. In one visit people can see bull butting, falconry, fishermen singing their sea shanties, children performing Emirati dances, men engaged in Al Youla dancing and swordsmen strutting their stuff on the saif arena.

Modified Rules

Generally the conduct of the bull butting will be the same as what happens each Friday afternoon down on the Fujairah corniche. The bulls are led out by their handlers and brought together, a commentator talks excitedly about what he sees, someone sounds a siren to get the bulls and spectators fired up and the young men run onto the arena after the bout to pull the bulls apart and offer some restraint.

“We want to try some modifications,” said Yazeed Al Nuaimi. “From next Friday we will mark two squares on the bull arena and this will help the judges to more accurately measure the extent to which one bull will push another bull away.”

Sometimes bull butting appears inconclusive and one does not know which bull has won the round so the bull butting judges at the Fort showground will make a clearer determination about which bull is the winner of each round.

A further new initiative is the establishment of a tighter schedule for the bulls and their handlers which will be available to them at the beginning of the session. This will tighten up the timetable and overcome unnecessary delays between bouts.

Bull Butting in the Blood

Yazeed Al Nuaimi (pictured) said he has been working and running with the bulls for more than 15 years. He developed the passion from his father who has 12 bulls which regularly perform on Fridays at the corniche. Since the age of 13, Yazeed has acted as a handler and part of the team that coaxes the bulls apart at the conclusion of each bout.

Although a native of Fujairah, Al Nuaimi works in Abu Dhabi in a job that oversees UAE coastguards.

Bull Butting Events

Generally bull butting will take place at the Fujairah Fort showground each Friday until 16 December except on 25 November when there is an Arabian Horse Exhibition.

The precise dates for the bull butting:

Friday 11 November 2011

Friday 18 November 2011

Friday 2 December 2011

Friday 9 December 2011

Friday 16 December 2011

Bull butting will be held on these days between 4pm-6pm. Many of the farmers come from remote mountain areas and it can be treacherous to transport their beloved bulls home in the dark.

Information and Enquiries

Further information about bull butting at the Fujairah Fort can be obtained by contacting the Al Saif office on 050 19 19 190 or email: info@mhm.ae

Take a Look!

A video of the bull butting at the Fujairah Fort last year can be found at this link.

نطاح الثيران في قلعة الفجيرة

يعتبر نطاح الثيران جانباً تراثياً هاماً لبطولة السيف وقرية التراث التي تستمر فعالياتها من الحادي عشر من نوفمبر وحتى السادس عشر من شهر ديسمبر.

وخلال هذه الفترة سيستمر نطاح الثيران في مكانه المعتاد على كورنيش الفجيرة.

ميدان جديد

وسجل اثنان وعشرون من الثيران أول حضور لهم مساء الجمعة الماضي بتاريخ 11/11/11 في الميدان الجديد أو الرقعة الجديدة على جهة اليسار عند قيادتك من الدوار باتجاه قلعة الفجيرة.

وصرح يزيد النعيمي، منسق نطاح الثيران في القلعة، أن ردود الفعل حول رقعة النطاح الجديدة من الكبار والصغار كانت إيجابية جداً ، وأضاف قائلاً:

"لقد أحبوا الميدان الجديد، فهو أكثر أماناً لأن الأسوار المحيطة به عالية وقوية، ولا يمكن للثور أن يقفز من فوقها متجهاً نحو الجمهور".

وعلق آخرون بأن إحدى إيجابيات الميدان الجديد هي توفير الظل من أشعة الشمس، كما أن موقع الميدان يتيح لهم الاستمتاع بإثارة المناطحة ومشاهدة جمال جبال الحجر من جهة وروعة وشموخ قلعة الفجيرة العريقة من جهة أخرى. بالإضافة إلى أن الأضواء القوية تتيح لنطاح الثيران أن يستمر حتى فترة المساء.

وأكثر ميزة تحدث عنها الزوار هي أن بطولة السيف وقرية التراث أصبحت محطة واحدة للعديد من الفعاليات، ففي نفس الزيارة، تستطيع رؤية نطاح الثيران، عروض الصقارين، الأهازيج البحرية، رقصات شعبية يؤديها الأطفال، عروض اليولة، ومزافن السيف في ميدان بطولة السيف.

قوانين معدلة

وعموماً، فإن طريقة نطاح الثيران هي نفسها التي تقام مساء كل جمعة في رقعة النطاح على كورنيش الفجيرة، حيث يقوم المدربون باقتياد الثيران وتجميعهم عند الميدان، في حين يقوم المعلق بالتعليق بحماس على مجرى الأحداث، ويقوم أحدهم بإطلاق صفارة إنذار ليستعد الجمهور والثيران معلناً بدء النطاح، وعند انتهائه يركض الشباب في الميدان لتفريق الثيران والتحكم بها.

وقال يزيد النعيمي بأنهم بصدد القيام ببعض التعديلات، حيث أنهم وابتداء من يوم الجمعة المقبل سيقومون بتحديد مربعين على أرض الميدان مما سيساعد الحكام على قياس مدى قوة دفع الثيران لبعضها البعض بشكل أكثر دقة.

وتبدو نتائج نطاح الثيران غير حاسمة في بعض الأحيان، حيث لا يعرف المشاهد أي ثور هو الفائز في الجولة ولذلك فإن حكام نطاح الثيران في قلعة الفجيرة سيتمكنون بعد التعديل من اتخاذ قرارات أوضح حول الثور الفائز في كل جولة.

وهناك مبادرة جديدة أخرى وهي إنشاء جدول زمني أقصر للثيران ومدربيهم يكون متاحاً لهم في بداية الجولة، وبهذا سيتم تقليص الجدول الزمني والتخلص من التأخير الذي لا داعي له بين كل جولة وأخرى.

نطاح الثيران يسري في الدماء

ويحكي يزيد النعيمي أنه أمضى أكثر من 15 عاماً في هذا المجال، حيث تطور شغفه بالثيران منذ أن كان عمره 13 عاماً، فقد كان والده يملك 12 ثوراً يصطحبهم بانتظام لنطاح الثيران مساء كل جمعة على الكورنيش، وكان يزيد يعمل مع الثيران ويدربها منذ ذلك الوقت كما كان أحد الشباب الذين يفرقون الثيران في نهاية كل جولة.

ورغم أن النعيمي من مواطني إمارة الفجيرة، إلا أنه يعمل في خفر السواحل في العاصمة أبوظبي .

فعاليات نطاح الثيران

ستقام فعاليات نطاح الثيران في ميدان قلعة الفجيرة كل جمعة حتى يوم 16 ديسمبر ما عدا تاريخ 25 نوفمبر والذي ستقام فيه مسابقة جمال الخيول.

والتواريخ المحددة لنطاح الثيران هي كما يلي:

الجمعة 11 نوفمبر 2011

الجمعة 18 نوفمبر 2011

الجمعة 2 ديسمبر 2011

الجمعة 9 ديسمبر 2011

الجمعة 16 ديسمبر 2011

وتقام فعاليات النطاح في هذه الأيام من الساعة الرابعة وحتى السادسة مساءً، حيث أن العديد من المزارعين يحضرون ثيرانهم من مناطق نائية ويصعب عليهم إعادة الثيران إلى مزارعهم ليلاً.

المعلومات والاستفسارات

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Fujairah Al Saif Sword Championship and Heritage Festival Commences

This report of the opening night of Fujairah’s Al Saif Traditional Sword Championship, 2011, is written by media personality and member of the Al Saif Organizing Committee, Shaikha Al Mesmari.

Sword Championship 2011

11/11/11 was the date that witnessed the launch of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Fujairah Crown Prince's Award "Al Saif Championship" at the Fujairah Fort, in an evening full of excitement and enthusiasm. The launch was attended by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Hamad Al Sharqi, son of His Highness the ruler of Fujairah, and a number of important local personalities. The championship was an outcome of His Highness the Crown Prince's strong belief in the importance and necessity of communication between young generations and the Arabic heritage, traditions and customs.

Televised Event

Al Saif arena witnessed the first round of Al Saif Championship at the front yard of the Fujairah Fort, and the first episode of the Award of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah was filmed. The filming and broadcasting of the Championship is an important tribute and a vital element in conveying a live, vivid and bright image of this form of traditional heritage (Al Mzafin).

Heritage Atmosphere

The Championship started with a number by Al Mazyood Band, who presented a beautiful traditional performance which was met by a loud cheer from the enthusiastic crowd who, males and females, came driven some by their love and passion for Al Mzafin, and some, especially the tourists, by curiosity to know more about this traditional art form.

The episode brought together Al Mzafin, poetry, and Arabic music at the Saif arena. All rounds of the championship will be held at the front yard of the Fujairah Fort, which was expanded to allow more room for movement and a wider range for the audience to follow the contestants and the jury formed by those interested in the art of Al Mzafin: Sultan Melaih, Rashed Al Yammahi, Taresh Rashid and Rashid Al Shehhi.

Elite Contestants

Sixteen elite contestants chosen from the preliminaries are participating in the Award of His Highness the Crown Prince "Al Saif championship". These 16 contestants are divided into 8 contestants per episode. The jury gives its opinion and evaluates each contestant while the highest score will be calculated at later stages of the championship. The outcome of the jury's evaluation will be equal to 40 points which will turn to 400 points, with each stage having its particular system.

New Dance Song

The first episode of the Award of His Highness the Crown Prince of Fujairah started with a new song by Emirati singer Aitha Al Menhali, called " Mzafin Al Saif", and the contestants moved skillfully and beautifully with the rhythms of the song.

Points Awarded

The episode contained 4 rounds initiated by contestant number (46), Yousif Darwish Al Dhohouri and contestant number (47), Hamed Al Kemzari Al Shehhi, and the first round ended with 260 points for Al Dhohouri and 280 points for Al Kemzari Al Shehhi, followed by contestant number (43), Taleb Slayyem Al Shehhi who earned 240 points and contestant number (35), Saif Ahmed Khamies Al Yammahi who earned 280 points in the second round. The third round was performed by contestant number (39) Yamaz Saeed Rashed Al Shehhi who got 300 points, and contestant Sulaiman Ahmad Al Shehhi, holding number (40) which is a special number in these days of celebrating the 40^th National Day of the UAE. Al Shehhi earned 310 points. In the fourth and last round, contestant number (48), Mohammad Saif Mohammad Kemzar Al Shehhi, earned 290 points, while contestant number (38) Abdulla bin Saadoun Al Shehhi earned 310 points.

High Standard

Sultan Melaih, member of the Championship's Jury, stated that the competition was strong between the contestants who showed a high level of skill and control of the sword. He added that he expects more excellence in the upcoming rounds, hoping that the contestants will keep the observations of the jury in mind and use them to advance their skills and performance in the next rounds. Melaih talked about the second episode of the championship, saying that "it will contain 8 new contestants with 4 rounds and the competition will be fierce."

Audience Interaction

Al Saif arena witnessed great interaction between the audience, who had the luxury of more seats than last year, and the pleasure of watching the skill and creativity of the contestants' movements with the symbol of manhood and bravery, the sword. The audience was not only limited to males; a lot of Emirati and expatriate families attended the first evening of the competition, including visitors of the Emirate of Fujairah, who came to enjoy the atmosphere of the championship and its associated activities like bull fighting, Al Youla traditional dancing, in addition to fishermen's songs and heritage quizzes in the Heritage Village.

Poetry and Song

The first evening of the championship also witnessed beautiful performances from singer Oraib and poet Khaled Al Dhanhani, who entertained the audience with wonderful selection of songs and poems. Al Dhanhani dedicated a poem to His Highness the Crown Prince of Fujairah, the championship's patron, and thanked the organizing committee of the championship for their efforts in showing the Award of His Highness the Crown Prince of Fujairah in a way worthy of his name.

Singer Oraib expressed her happiness for being in the Emirate of Fujairah and meeting her audience. She sang two songs: the first one was Al Habeeb Al Awwali written by His Highness Rashid bin Hamad Al Sharqi, and the second song was Fedait Sootek written by Mohammad Saeed Al Dhanhani, which was met by a loud cheer from the audience. The contestants showed off their skill with the sword and their graceful moves with the rhythms of the songs in beautiful performances accompanied by the audience's cheers and clapping.

National Identity and Spirit

The Organizing Committee of the Saif Championship stated that they're doing their best to make the championship a success. They explained that these efforts are combined together to make the championship an event worthy of the name of the Crown Prince of Fujairah who seeks to promote the national identity and instill patriotism, and who is following all the details of the championship that brought together in one place all the people interested in the art of Al Mzafin, to compete and participate from the 11^th of November to the 16^th of December.

Thanks

Thanks to Shaikha Al Mesmari for writing this article and allowing it to be posted on Fujairah in Focus. Shaikha is Media Officer for the Emiri Court, radio presented on Fujairah FM and member of the Al Saif Organizing Committee.

Take a Look

Some photos of Friday night’s sword championship taken by Dr. Michele Ziolkowski are posted with thanks, in this photo album.

Some photos of the heritage activities (bull butting, falcons, sword dancing, food etc.) on Friday night (11/11/11) are posted in this photo album.

Some photos of opening night (Thursday 10/11/11) at the Al Saif Championship & Heritage Festival are posted in this photo album.

Your copy of the Al Saif Traditional Sword Championship and Heritage Festival each weekend until 17 December, is posted at this link.

Because the program keeps changing, stay abreast of these developments by clicking LIKE on the Al Saif Competition Page.

Contact details for enquiries and more information are posted at this link.

Geoff Pound

More Fujairah news, information, resources and photos are posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Images: Photo of the sword championship courtesy of Dr. Michele Ziolkowski.