Zanzibar: The first sessions of two academic seminars focusing on two Omani individuals featured in UNESCO's program marking the 50th and 100th anniversaries of key historical events. Events and globally notable personalities began today in Zanzibar.
The workshops focus on Omani poet and journalist Nasser bin Salim bin Adayim Al Bahlani Al Rawahi Abu Muslim, as well as historian and scholar Humaid bin Mohammed bin Ruzayq Al Nakhli, featuring contributions from academics, researchers, and other stakeholders from Oman and Zanzibar.
The Ministry of Education, represented by the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth organized the event. The two-day seminars, coordinated with the Sultanate of Oman's Consulate in Zanzibar, seek to present these persons to the globe while emphasizing their important scientific and cultural contributions. Cultural accomplishments will be recognized, and Oman's attempts to promote its national heroes on the international scene will be highlighted.
The first day included a workshop with numerous research papers about the poet and journalist Abu Muslim Al Bahlani Al Rawahi, addressing subjects like: His biography and poetry, the media aspect of his work, the symbolism of locations in his poems, an assessment of his intellectual contributions, and the strengthening of African-Arab cultural links are all included.
The second day will feature a workshop on the character of Ibn Ruzayq, with debates focusing on aspects of his life and approach to Historical writing, worldwide influence, legacy in Arab and foreign archives, and a study of his intellectual ideas.
Dr. Mahmoud bin Abdullah Al Abri, secretary of Oman's National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, delivered the keynote speech, outlining the global and regional context for education, culture, and science. Organizations with which the Commission works, as well as its objectives, responsibilities, and programs. He underlined its significance in safeguarding heritage and cultural identity, and presented UNESCO's initiative for commemorating major historical events and worldwide figures. As the Omani figures were successfully incorporated into this project.
The Sultanate of Oman has successfully registered seven Omani persons and one historical event in UNESCO's program for important historical anniversaries and globally renowned people. These include the linguist Al Khalil bin Ahmad Al Farahidi (2005), the physician and pharmacist Rashid bin Omaira Al Hashmi Al Rustaqi (2013), and the encyclopedist Sheikh Nooruddin Abdullah bin Humaid Al Salmi, a social reformer, and Abū Moḥammad Abdullah bin Moḥammad Al Ozdi, a physician and physicist also known as Ibn Al Dhahabi (both in 2015), the poet Nasser bin Salim Al Bahlani Al Rawahi, often known as Abu Muslim (2019), and the Omani sailor Ahmed bin Majid Al Sa'adi (2021).
Oman successfully registered two more cultural elements during the meetings of the Administrative and Financial Commission of the 42nd UNESCO General Conference in November 2023. The 350th anniversary of the construction of Jabrin Fort and the 150th anniversary of the death of historian and poet Humaid bin Mohammed bin Ruzayq.
