Symposium honours Dr Ghuloum’s legacy

MUSCAT: The Omani Society for Writers and Literati (OSWL) hosted a symposium titled ‘Oman and the Gulf in the Thought of Dr Ibrahim Ghuloum’, celebrating the life and contributions of the late Bahraini critic and thinker. The event brought together 15 critics and researchers from Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The symposium was attended by writers, intellectuals and cultural enthusiasts. Said bin Mohammed al Saqlawi, Chairman of OSWL Board of Directors, highlighted Dr Ghuloum’s profound impact on Gulf literary criticism, storytelling, folk literature and theatre, noting his close ties with Omani intellectuals.
Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research, praised the initiative for strengthening cultural ties between the two countries and honouring pioneering intellectual contributions.
Dr Fawzia Said al Saleh, widow of Dr Ghuloum, expressed gratitude for the symposium, noting his humility and lifelong dedication to literature, theatre and research.
The event featured two sessions exploring Dr Ghuloum’s critical and creative thought. In the first session, Dr Mohammed Abdullah Boudi (Saudi Arabia) examined his work documenting early Gulf literary criticism, while Dr Mubarak bin Issa al Jabri analysed ‘The Death of the Intellectual: Culture as a Footnote.’
Other presentations focused on cultural sociology, early short story criticism and his contributions to theatre, including critical readings of plays such as ‘The Sufferings of Ahmed bin Majid’ and ‘Horses.’
The second session included discussions on establishing critical beginnings in Ghuloum’s thought, his personal and social reflections in literature, and his efforts to promote theatre for children.
Dr Khalifa Yassin bin Arabi (Bahrain), Dr Abdul Karim bin Ali Jawad, and Dr Abbas Hassan al Qassab (Bahrain) delivered key papers. The symposium also featured personal testimonials from colleagues and poets reflecting on their experiences with Dr Ghuloum.
An open dialogue concluded the event, focusing on his role in shaping critical awareness in the Gulf and documenting the region’s literary heritage. The OSWL announced plans to publish a documentary book compiling symposium papers to preserve his intellectual legacy and benefit future research.
Born in 1952 in Al Hadd, Bahrain, Dr Ibrahim Ghuloum earned his BA from Al Azhar University (1972) and a PhD in Literature and Criticism from the University of Tunis (1983). A prominent critic and thinker, he linked literary texts to social and political contexts and helped establish theatrical criticism in the region.
Among his acclaimed works is ‘Theatre of the Original Issue: The Intellectual Structure in the Theatre of Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi', awarded at the Sharjah International Book Fair.
He also served as Dean of the College of Arts at the University of Bahrain, contributing to curriculum development and the Arabic Language Department.
Dr Ghuloum passed away on September 29, 2023, leaving an enduring intellectual and cultural legacy across the Gulf and Arab world. - ONA