Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa was a Bahraini royal and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bahrain from 10 January 1970 until his death in 2020. He took office over a year before Bahrain's independence on 15 August 1971. He was the longest-serving prime minister in the world. Under the 2002 Constitution he lost some of his powers, with the King now having the authority to appoint and dismiss ministers.
Ali Salman Ahmed Salman is a Bahraini Twelver Shi'a cleric and the Secretary-General of the Al-Wefaq political society. In January 1995, the Bahraini government forcibly exiled him to Dubai for leading a popular campaign demanding the reinstatement of the constitution and the restoration of parliament during the 1990s Uprising. From there he made his way to London and sought asylum. He continued opposition activities from London, where he was associated with the Bahrain Freedom Movement. Salman returned to Bahrain in March 2001 in a general amnesty as part of a set of political reforms announced by King Hamad.
Ali Al Shargawi is a leading Bahraini poet, lyricist and playwright whose work has been translated into English, German, Bulgarian, Russian, Kurdish, and French. Born in Manama in 1948, he started publishing his poetry in 1968, and quickly gained prominence in Arab newspapers and magazines.
Gudaibiya (Qudaibiya) is a neighbourhood in Manama, the capital city of Bahrain.
Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh was a Bahraini writer and poet, generally considered to be one of Bahrain's greatest poets and one of the leaders of the Bahraini literary movement in the 20th century.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Bahrain:
Mohammed Haddad is a Bahraini composer and music critic. He is an active artist in the music scene of Bahrain and a leading composer in the film scores of Bahraini films. He is best known for his work on the soundtrack of the critically acclaimed Bahraini motion picture A Bahraini Tale.
Qassim Haddad is a Bahraini poet, particularly notable within the Arab world for his free verse poetry. His poems have been translated in several languages including German, English and French.
Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Ahmed Qassim is Bahrain's leading Shia cleric and a politician. He is the spiritual leader of Al Wefaq, Bahrain's biggest opposition society. He is the founder and leader of the Islamic Enlightenment Institution.
The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Awards are a biannual prize for literary and cultural achievement in the Arab world. It is administered by the Sultan Bin Al Owais Cultural Foundation of the United Arab Emirates. The award was established by the late Emirati businessman and philanthropist Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais. The awards were first given out in 1988-89.
A Bahraini Tale is a 2006 Bahraini Arabic-language drama film directed by Bassam Al-Thawadi, screenplay by Fareed Ramadan and starring Saad Abdulla, Fatima Abdulrahim and Abdulla Al Sa'adawi. This is the third feature film to be directed by Bassam al-Thawadi and one of the only three films ever made in Bahrain.
HamdaKhamis is a poet and a freelance columnist from Bahrain.
The theatre of Bahrain in its present form originated in the early 20th century, after the introduction of formal education in the country. Though shadow plays and puppet shows were previously widespread in Bahrain, European-style drama plays were first introduced in schools and plays written by Arab dramatists would be later included in the school curriculum.
Bilateral relations exist between the countries of Bahrain and Iran. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, relations between the two countries have been strained over various geopolitical issues such as the interpretations of Islam, aspirations for leadership of the Islamic world, and relations with the United States, Europe, and other Western countries. In addition, Iran has been severely critical of Bahrain for hosting the United States Fifth Fleet within the Persian Gulf at the Naval Support Activity Bahrain base.
Shia Islam in Bahrain is estimated to be approximately 70% of the Muslim population in Bahrain. This number is disputed, with the Sunni royal family placing it closer to half, some surveys estimating it to be 62%, and most sources placing the estimate somewhere near 70% of the Muslim population. This number may no longer be accurate due to the increasing rates of naturalization of Sunni migrants in Bahrain. Most major mosques in the country are Shia, however, the ruling family practices Sunni Islam. According to the Washington Institute, the views of Shia and Sunni leaders in Bahrain are similar to their Arab neighboring countries.
Qatari literature traces its origins back to the 19th century. Originally, written poetry was the most common form of expression, but poetry later fell out of favor after Qatar began reaping the profits from oil exports in the mid-20th century and many Qataris abandoned their Bedouin traditions in favor of more urban lifestyles.
Abdullah bin Ali bin Jabber Al Zayed was a Bahraini dramatist, poet, and journalist. He was born in Muharraq, the son of a pearl merchant who plied the Persian Gulf. Al Zayed attended the school run by Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Yusuf, a graduate of Al-Azhar University. Although Al Zayed succeeded his father in the pearl trade, he remained in touch with the country’s scholars and authors. Exiled politically to India from 1929 to 1932, he established the first modern printing press in the Gulf States and founded a cultural club in his hometown. In 1939, Al Zayed founded the newspaper Bahrain, which lasted for six years. He wrote stories and plays as well. Mubarak Al Khater compiled, edited, and published Al Zayed’s works in 1996.
Hassan Salman Kamal is a Bahraini poet and broadcaster. He was born in Manama. He started working for the Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) in 1959, rising from an editor and broadcaster up to the directorship until his retirement in 1988. He held the position of Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters. He has also published several books of poetry and songs.
The Bahrain Writers Association is a Bahraini professional association for writers. It was established in 1969 and is headquartered in the Zinj neighborhood of Manama. Committed to social mobility, their motto is “Words for Humanity.” The organization is an associate member of the Arab Writers Union and the Afro-Asian Writers Association. The Bahrain Writers Association seeks the following:
To stimulate quality production in literature, culture, and general thought, to encourage literary and intellectual research and interest in Arab history at the local and national levels, and to move literature in a direction that serves society and develops social awareness, in addition to sponsoring the intellectual movement and working toward its prosperity.
