What I learned tracing Khaleeji rhythms and genres to their roots.
Our band newsletter provides an alternative perspective on Arab identity by upholding pluralism, equity, and cultural critique. And this was a big year to advance my understanding of how slavery operated before the advent of oil in the Gulf.
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As you might assume, Khaleeji citizens learn about our ancestors without any mention of slavery. The essential contributions of enslaved people to pearl diving, date farming, trade, and other facets of Khaleeji life will never be fully grasped.
There’s a lot to be said about the Muslim conquests in Africa, but the official abolition of slavery in the Gulf region occurred gradually and often came as a result of international diplomatic pressure. Qatar formally ended slavery in 1952, followed by Saudi Arabia in 1962 and Oman in 1970, marking some of the latest dates for abolition worldwide.
In Kuwait, the process was largely driven by British intervention. As the dominant naval power in the region, Britain compelled Kuwait and other Trucial States to sign agreements prohibiting the export of slaves, culminating with formal abolition in 1949.
Also worth noting: Abraham Lincoln “The Great Emancipator” did not free the slaves 1865 out of goodwill. Slaves freed themselves through collective action and that is indeed what triggered the formal end of slavery worldwide.
While most Khaleeji music experts prefer to split the domain into sea vs. desert genres, I found it more insightful to think about it from a human(itarian) perspective; that genres like Al-Sout (الصوت) were rooted in merchant families, while other musical traditions, like Al-Tanbura, have a vivid link to the African diaspora and enslaved communities.
💡All this led me to realize that ethnocentrism and slavery have a bidirectional relationship. Meaning, ethnocentrism isn’t rooted in slavery, so much as the two have been mutually reinforcing throughout history as each provides justification and structure for the other.
Frameworks of Exclusion
🇰🇼 Unlike Western forms of discrimination that often center on race, Kuwaiti ethnocentrism operates primarily through lineage and tribal affiliation (see below). In some ways, this cultural system in place today functions much like the bloodline-based hierarchies of Western aristocracies!
I’m grateful to have recognized my privilege early in life, but I regret not taking my father’s advice to focus on world events in a historic context. Even in America, I am white-passing; many people tell me I have “zero accent.” All this has freed me to take risks and attempt to articulate the truths of our world and letting the cards fall where they may.
Getting rest is critical to doing this work… though perhaps 11 hours suggests I’m still catching up. Thank you for championing our music by being here!
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