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A Bedouin Man in the United Arab Emirates with Camel |
Janbiya جنبيةThe Janbiya is the curved ceremonial dagger often worn at the waist by Men in Arabia, especially in Yemen. Children do not wear the Janbiya. Exquisite craftsmanship goes into their making, often dependent on the wealth of the bearer, with wealthier Men having Janbiya with handles made of exotic materials.Janbiya often come with elaborate silver work, like the one on the Bedouin man in the photo, and also may have embedded precious stones on the handle and sheath. Janbiya are never to come out of their sheath except in the most dire of situations, or during special ceremonies. Unsheathing the Janbiya without just cause is considered to be a defamation of all present. Saker Falcon الصقر الحرThe Saker Falcon makes its winter home in Arabia, and is the traditional falcon used by the Bedouin for hunting small game, which is still practiced in Arabia today. The Saker is a large falcon that is easily tamed. The call of the Saker Falcon is a sharp Ki-Yee. The Saker Falcon is a raptor of open grasslands preferably with some trees or cliffs. It often hunts by horizontal pursuit, rather than the Peregrine Falcon's stoop from a height, and feeds mainly on rodents and other birds.Camel جملThe Camel is a sturdy and strong animal adapted to life in the Desert. Able to go for long periods with little water and having feet adapted to walking in the soft sands of the Desert. It goes without saying that the Camel enabled the Bedouin's ability to live in the Desert. Usually only female Camels are used for riding, with males often having a temperemental attitude not compatible with being a riding animal. Traditionally, Bedouin would mount raids against other tribes, called Ghazu ز ح ض ش, seeking to plunder Camels, Camels lost in a raid and recovered in a counter raid are referred to as Araif, وص لط و. Raiding for Camels was almost a recreational activity to the Bedouin, and was very different from War, known as Harb حرب. While the age of Raiding for Camels may be long gone, Camel husbandry and racing is still practiced widely in modern Arabia.Prizes handed out during Camel Beauty Pageant in Saudi Arabia (Arab News) Camel Beauties head to the Al Dhafra Festival in the United Arab Emirates (Khaleej Times) |
Notes on the Desert صحراءWhen people think of Arabia they often think endless sand with nothing growing, but in truth the Deserts in Arabia can be quite green after winter rains. There is one part of Arabia that does meet the stereotype, however, the Rub Al Khali, or Empty Quarter, صحراء الربع الخالي which is the largest sand desert in the world. Also, info on the Liwa Oasis واحة ليوا of the Rub Al Khali.Rub Al Khali Wikipedia Page Liwa Oasis Wikipedia Page International Desert Festival in Hail, Saudi Arabia (Arab News) 
Photo: Rub Al Khali sand dunes near the Liwa Oasis in the United Arab Emirates (Wikipedia) |
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Tribes of Arabia القبائل العربيةIn Arabia today there are modern governments and states, with many people moving to new locations for jobs and careers and marriage, but regardless of this many people in Arabia still have strong loyalties and devotion to their particular Tribe, Tribal Groups that are often hundreds of years old.Al Otaibi (Otaibah) العتيبيProbably the largest Arabian tribe of them all, members of the Al Otaibi can be found throughout Arabia. Initially some of them were Bedouin, while others lived in cities and towns. However, over time significant numbers of the Bedouin started living in cities and towns also, and started serving important roles in government, diplomacy, and business.CLICK HERE for more info on this tribe. |
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Bedouin in Crises - Bedouin of the Negev Desert النقبMany Bedouin left the area of the Negev Desert during the Nakba النكبة of 1948, often forcibly and against their wishes at the hands of the Israeli Army, but some remained and continue to live in the Negev Desert of Today. Some information about these Bedouin is on this website, including a partial list of human rights abuses committed against them by the State of Israel. CLICK HERE for more info on these Bedouin. |
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Bedouin Entrepreneurs - Bedouin of the Wadi Rum وادي رمBedouin have lived in the region of the Wadi Rum in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for hundreds of years, observing their traditional life of herding Camel and Goats and living in their comfortable tents. But now in modern times, a new kind of Bedouin live in this region. Bedouin Entrepreneurs providing Eco-Tours and Camp Sites for visiting tourists, taking visitors on tours of the interesting rock formations of the Wadi Rum, and letting their visitors live the traditional life of the Bedouin with Camel Riding and Bedouin food. CLICK HERE for more info on these Bedouin. |
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Bedouin in Conflict - Bedouin of the Sinai بدو سيناءBedouin have lived in the region of the Sinai Peninsula for hundreds of years. But in recent years, open warfare has erupted in the Sinai between the Egyptian Armed Forces and extremist terrorist groups like Daesh الدولة الاسلامية, with many of the Sinai Bedouin caught in the middle of the conflict, and other Sinai Bedouin joining with the extremist terrorist groups. This website will show some details of the current armed conflict in the Sinai, and also provide some information about the culture and traditions of the Sinai Bedouin. CLICK HERE for more info on these Bedouin. |
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