“Marawed” Dedicates a Special Issue to the Life and Legacy of Ali Abdullah Khalifa
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage has released a special issue of “Marawed” magazine celebrating the life and journey of the late Bahraini poet and researcher Ali Abdullah Khalifa, under the title: “Ali Abdullah Khalifa… Guardian of Heritage and Master of Poetry.”
The issue brings together a distinguished collection of studies, articles, and testimonies that revisit his creative and intellectual achievements, documenting his pioneering contributions to preserving Gulf and Arab folk heritage, and highlighting his role as one of the foremost guardians of cultural memory.
An exceptional dossier documenting a journey of creativity and devotion
The special issue serves as a cultural document that sheds light on key milestones in the late poet’s career. The dossier opens with an article by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, President of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, titled “The One Who Sparked the First Flame.” It also features Dr. Fahad Hussein’s article, “The Ali Khalifa I Knew,” and Mohammed Saeed Al-Baloushi’s contribution, “Ali Abdullah Khalifa: Poet, Researcher, and Pioneer of Gulf Folk Cultural Memory.”
The issue also includes articles exploring various aspects of the late poet’s personality and career, including Ibrahim Sanad’s article, “Ali Abdullah Khalifa… The Man Who Turned Memory into a Homeland,” Talal Al-Rumaidhi’s article, “Ali Abdullah Khalifa… A Cultural Symbol from Bahrain,” and Ali Ahmed Al-Mughni’s piece, “The Guardian of Folk Memory Takes His Final Bow,” alongside other contributions that highlight his poetic, research, and human legacy.
Testimonies recalling the poet’s presence and legacy
The issue features contributions from a number of intellectuals and researchers who examined Ali Abdullah Khalifa’s experience from different perspectives, including Mustafa Gad with his article “The Story of Unfulfilled Dreams… With Ali Abdullah Khalifa, the One Who Held on to the Embers,” Dr. Ahmed Bahi El-Din with “Ali Abdullah Khalifa… Poet of the Sea and Narrator of Heritage,” Hassan Madan with “Ali Abdullah Khalifa… Writer and Scholar of the Mawwal,” and Dr. Mohammed Nasser Louri with “The Guardian Who Taught Us That Heritage Is the Memory of a Nation.”
The issue also includes contributions by Dr. Nahla Imam, Dr. Asaad Abdulrahman, Dr. Hanadi bint Issa Al-Jودر, Ibrahim Al-Hashemi, Dr. Mohammed Youssef, Hafez Abdelghafar, Fatima Al-Mazrouei, and Maryam Al-Mazrouei, in articles reflecting the late poet’s prominent position in the Gulf and Arab cultural landscape.
Al-Musallam: A lasting legacy for words, homeland, and heritage
In the opening editorial, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, President of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Editor-in-Chief, affirmed that the passing of poet Ali Abdullah Khalifa represented a profound loss for his admirers across the Gulf and the Arab world. He described him as a sensitive poet who dedicated his life to sincere expression, homeland, and the preservation of heritage, leaving behind an enduring poetic and cultural legacy embodied in notable works such as “Anin Al-Sawari,” “Birds of the Evening,” “The Oppressed One’s Tear,” “Thirst of the Palms,” “Illumination of the Homeland’s Memory,” “The Meaning Said,” “Washa’ij,” “A Lonely Moon,” and “One Heart,” among others.
Dr. Al-Musallam explained that dedicating this special issue to the late poet comes as a tribute to his journey and a recognition of his significant contributions to culture and heritage. Through studies and testimonies documenting his academic, professional, and human journey, the issue highlights his role in preserving folk memory and serves as a valuable reference for researchers and heritage enthusiasts.
Bonama: A farewell befitting a cultural icon
The issue concludes with an article by Dr. Moni Bonama, Editor of Marawed magazine, in which he recalls the final moments of the late poet’s life, affirming that Ali Abdullah Khalifa departed peacefully in a manner befitting his kind spirit after a journey filled with dedication and achievement, leaving behind a cultural legacy that will continue to endure.
Bonama noted that the late poet left this world after a journey marked by patience and hardship, yet he gifted future generations “an illumination of the homeland’s memory.” He connected Khalifa’s poetic works, which have become lasting landmarks in cultural consciousness, with his enduring presence in collective memory, affirming that the poet will remain alive through his poems, research, and contributions that established him as one of the most prominent figures of heritage and culture in the Gulf.