Abu Dhabi, December 16: The National Library at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture And Heritage (ADACH) published the first English translation on Emirati Kharaeef (traditional fairytales) titled “A Key To Another World”.
The book gathers 14 popular Kharufa by the author Iwona Taida Drozd, a Polish journalist based in Abu Dhabi since 1989, illustration by the Dutch graphic designer Ufuk Kobas Smink.
Publishing the book is part of ADACH strategic plan to document and preserve the national heritage and make it available for the whole world.
According to the author, Kharareef (the plural of Kharufa) are tales, thus imaginary stories. It is a term, used by Emiratis, originating from the traditional dialect of the UAE.
Some Kharareef are purely local, others have been borrowed from foreign cultures. They traveled from distant lands along with camel caravans, with the sailors on good-laden ships, with slaves from Zanzibar who worked alongside their owners on pearling boats, and with India and Persian pearl traders.
Thus the origin of these tales is multicultural. Always, however, their contents reflect the local life’s realities and popular culture. Moreover, these stories portray the characteristic values of the society in the wider context of Arab culture and Muslim heritage.
Iwona Taida Drozd is author of many articles about Muslim countries, particularly the UAE, their culture, traditions and ethnography.
She is the author of the screenplay of a six-part documentary film about the UAE for polish TV Polsat, titled “Emirates; Gifts of Heavens”. She is also the author of the books “Daily life in Abu Dhabi” and “Mustang; The Buddhist Kingdom of Lo.”
—Agencies