Music is a Global Phenomenon that Connects Us All: Qatari Composer

Audiences were treated to a variety of performances on the night of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw, which emphasized the region's rich cultural legacy, with a focus on Qatari folklore. "A Journey to the Art of Fijiri," an audio-visual installation honoring 'fijiri,' a musical repertory sung by pearl divers from the Arabian Gulf region, was at the center of this display.

The performance combined traditional sounds of the 'nahham,' a pearl diving vocalist, with electronic music to represent the cultural bridges that Qatar 2022 hopes to develop as it hosts the first FIFA Globe Cup in the Middle East and Arab world. Faisal Al Tamimi, a Qatari composer and cultural practitioner who has committed his life to celebrating Qatar's culture, was the piece's main driving factor.

Al Tamimi was a football-crazed kid who dreamed of playing professionally, but his passion for the arts overshadowed his desire to play professionally.

He followed a career in the arts after obtaining a degree in social science, organizing cultural troupes that performed at important events with the goal of resurrecting Qatari traditions such as attire, music, and crafts. The opening ceremonies of the 11th Arabian Gulf Cup in 1992, as well as the 2006 Asian Games, were among these appearances.

"Folk art is a reflection of ordinary actions in any society." The way societies live is documented through these arts. Folk art serves this aim. It is important to me to maintain and recreate this art originates from its ability to describe the communities we live in, not from the musical composition itself," said Al Tamimi, whose renowned career spans numerous disciplines, including musical composition and writing, theatre, and set design.

I was apprehensive at first, fearful that it would be rejected by audiences in Qatar and the region, as well as around the world. However, I am certain that music is a universal phenomenon that unites us all. It is a universally understood language. So, why not bridge the gaps between different repertoires and break free from our musical shells?"

Al Tamimi began collaborating with Katara Studios and American musician Greg M. Johnson to create and direct the piece that was played during the draw as a result of this artistic research. Johnson's compositions were blended with the voice of a nahham, all placed against a visual backdrop inspired by design themes.

"Prior to the discovery of oil, Fijiri art depicted life in this corner of the world for hundreds of years. The songs, which were sung by seafarers on the shore or on the boats themselves, provide a thorough depiction of life in Qatar and the Gulf at the time. "I opted to represent it at the draw because this art form reflects a significant turning point in this region's history – a shift from a simple pearl diving economy to a robust oil-fueled economy," Al Tamimi explained.

"My goal is for everyone to gain a better understanding of Qatar's diverse cultural customs, notably how generosity and welcoming guests play a significant role in establishing our identity." I want visitors attending the World Cup to take home a piece of our culture. I'd love to see a Japanese fan leave with a traditional coffee pot, or an English fan wearing a traditional 'thobe' and 'gahfiya'. "I want fans to take something with them that will remind them of our culture's beauty," Al Tamimi remarked.