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Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, May God protects him, the 24th annual Heritage Festival kicks off on 14 April 2016. This year’s edition, themed ‘Vocal Waves from Our Bahrain’, will be held in a special tent near Bahrain National Museum and will be open to the public at 6:00 pm.

The Bahrain Heritage Festival has gained a worldwide reputation and vigor since its launch in 1992 thanks to the gracious auspices of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The festival reflects HM King Hamad’s personal interest in reviving Bahrain’s genuine and long-dating heritage and protecting it from being marginalized. Bahraini and Arab traditions are presented annually in this festival, which reflects the keenness of His Highness to patronize this event in order to preserve this rich heritage for future generations.

Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA) have organized the festival daily from 16:00 to 21:00 and is keen to revive sweet memories of pearl-related activities and crafts, economic and socio-cultural functions and other intangible heritage elements, such as traditional pearl-diving songs.

Through merging sea waves with sound waves, the festival focuses on the element of sound being a means through which the sea, the pear lining industry and non-material heritage are showcased. BACA’s choice of this year’s theme ‘Rhythms of Bahrain’ will focus on intangible heritage revolving around the concept of memories of the sea and the island during the period of diving and pearling. Acoustic showcases of traditional poems, such as ‘Al-Sankani’, ‘Al-Taqsira’, ‘Al-Midaf’, ‘Al-Raha’ and ‘Toob toob ya Bahar’ etc. are sure to entertain the audience.

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage themselves in an artistic experience through a selection of four post-modernism works of art relating the intangible human heritage experience of Bahraini pearl divers and their families, both visually and acoustically. This 24th edition of Bahrain’s Heritage Festival revolves around the concept of memories of the sea and the island during the pearl diving season. This will also portray the role of women during the absence of the pearl divers for the four-month period. The festival will highlight the preparations for the diving, the farewell festival (the official day of boarding or sailing ‘Al-Rakba’, the women’s daily life on the island (the Waiting) and finally welcoming the divers back- the day of the return of the crew ‘Al-quffal’.

The festival offers visitors a chance to see some of Bahrain's finest craftsmen at work, including basket-weaving, Kurar house embroidery, pottery, handicrafts, boat-building, musical instruments' making, jewellery, iron, wood and paper products, embroidered and crocheted goods as well as highly artistic Arabic calligraphy. There will also be a market inside the tent with stands showcasing Bahraini products, such as coffee, dates, perfumes, water vaccine, fabrics, accessories, traditional sweets and other modern artistic Bahraini products. Other than tableaux of Bahraini folklore, the festival features theatrical works and specialized workshops.

From 4-9 pm lovers of traditional Bahraini music will have a rendezvous with Fejiri and Liwa arts performed by Mohammad Bin Faris Music Band, Police Music Band, Qalali Popular Arts Group, Dar Bin Harban, Al-Hid House Bursheid Youth, Sami al-Maloud Popular Music Group, Riffa Little House and Ismael Dawwas Music Band.

There will be a balanced mixture of traditional and contemporary products at the souq surrounded by Bahraini cafes encouraging the visitor to experience flavors of the Kingdom.

This year, the introduction to an educational program for the children’s section will enable the visitor to experience and learn about Bahrain’s heritage and culture. Children will have a daily entertainment opportunity presented by Puppet Theater and activities performed by ‘Heritage Hazawi’ (folktales). Daily activities such as face-painting, photography, jewellery-making and painting heritage drawings will be also available for children. Inventive and creative workshops, such as Thob-al-Nashel Silkscreen Printing, Shell & Pearls Workshop, Al-Karadi Doll Making, Decorate Your Box, Diver’s Crown, Make your Own Music Instrument, Designing a Fish Aquarium, Recycling Workshop, Invent Your Heritage Story, Boat Making etc. will be sure to delight the children while teaching them about Bahrain heritage.