‘Children’s Literature in the Gulf: Reviving the Art of Local Storytelling’
There has been a revival of heritage folktales and fables in the Gulf Arab states amid a growing appetite for locally written children’s literature. Regional platforms supporting this budding industry include Abu Dhabi’s Etisalat Award for Arabic children’s literature launched in 2009, Qatar’s State Award for Children’s Literature established in 2015, and Sharjah’s Children’s Book Fair inaugurated in 2018. This proactive support of local children’s authors by Gulf states is relatively new and is linked to national development and education strategies. However, the tradition of intimate oral storytelling, known as hakawati, has a long history in the region and is considered an important component of the khaleeji culture. More and more, local writers are digging into the archives to revive this heritage and preserve the Arabic language, while offering children and young adults pleasurable and culturally relevant stories.