Authenticity and Identity in Omani Folk Poetry: Perspectives on Terminology, Themes, and Performance

Abstract

This study seeks to examine certain manifestations of authenticity and identity in Omani folk poetry. To this end, it proceeds along three main approaches. The first is a foundational approach that investigates the phenomenon of nomenclature and its relationship, on the one hand, to the origins of classical Arabic poetry, and on the other, to Omani cultural identity. The second is an analytical approach that traces the themes and meanings of poetry in order to explore the relationship between the poetic text and the environment in which it emerged and developed. The third is a descriptive approach that presents some of the methods through which poetic arts are performed. Taken together, these approaches lead to a set of conclusions, the most notable of which can be summarized in two main findings. The first is that Omani folk poetry maintains genealogical and foundational connections with the origins of ancient Arabic poetry, a relationship that is particularly evident in the names given to certain poetic forms. The second is that this type of poetic discourse has served as a powerful expression of Omani identity and its distinctiveness in geographical, political, cultural, and social terms.