The Accidental Ethnographer

This volume involved transcribing and co-translating traditional oral Emirati al-Nabat?? poetry in order to help preserve Bedouin oral culture and enhance cross-cultural communication. Additional poems were then added from existing published poems in order to provide a contrast as well as two of my own composition. The tradition teaches ethical conduct during social occasions as a source of communal entertainment and at the same time works to underpin the social hierarchy of Arab tribal etiquette. While the poetic tradition remains predominantly oral though contact between the literate and illiterate composers of poetry was much wider than previously thought.. For some comparative studies may be difficult to position yet literary bridging exercises are very helpful in contributing to an inter-cultural dialogue; ‘Bridges connect people cultures and hearts’ observes Sheikh Al Maktoum and I hope this process may continue through the poetry you find here.