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AN interactive children’s book featuring traditional Bahraini music aims to showcase and preserve the kingdom’s rich heritage through words, song and dance.
The melodic soundbook entitled Hazawi Lawal took almost two years to complete and was launched this week. The title translates to ‘old traditional stories and songs’.
It has been created by education entrepreneur Sabine Muller and award-winning filmmaker Mahmood Al-Yousif. They selected the songs and developed the graphics and the characters with artist Mahmood Al Khaja.
“There’s nothing quite like it,” said German expatriate Sabine, 41, a mother-of-two, who lives in Saar. “We wanted to celebrate Arabian cultural heritage, especially in the Gulf region.”
The book features five traditional songs – Gurgaon, Habash Labash, Hamama Noodi, Sweara and Tig Ya Matar.
Gurgaon is one of the most famous songs annually performed on the 14th day of Ramadan. Customarily on this day, children wear traditional clothes (embroidered vests and caps for boys and embroidered veils and dresses for girls) and head out to collect sweets, nuts and coins in special cloth bags, while singing traditional songs.
The stories surrounding the songs feature three characters called Yara, Arif and their cat, Tala.
Mahmood, who won the best documentary in the science and education category at the North European Fusion Film Festival in London in February 2020 highlighting the work of breast cancer charity, Think Pink Bahrain, said: “These stories aim to connect today’s kids with their parents’ and grandparents’ heritage, in a modern way.
“Everyone we talked to and showed the book to remembers the songs and reminisces about their own childhood.
“Our soundbook will help parents guide their children at a very young age to become more aware of their cultural and social identity in a playful manner.
“Studies about early childhood education have shown that cultural heritage awareness pays an important role in helping young children developing a positive sense of identity as well as building self-esteem.”
The book, priced BD5.500, is aimed at children aged 18 months and above.
“Toddlers can look at the story and listen to the songs simply by pressing a robust button on each page,” explained Mahmood. “And, a QR code at the back of the book enables readers to watch a video for the specific song.”
The songs were performed by pupils from Zubaida Primary Girls School in Muharraq.
Sabine came up with the idea after purchasing a couple of soundbooks with famous classical music from Germany which won over her children. Based on this experience she wondered if something similar could be made available featuring typical Arabic songs.
For more details check out Instagram account @hazawilawal or visit https://hazawi.me
