YEMEN UPDATE

 

YEMEN MISCELLANY

Miscellany Books and Publication Notices Research Queries last updated 10/14/02

This is a bulletin board for information about Yemen and Yemeni Studies.

If you are interested in posting information here, please send this to Dan Varisco (socdmv@hofstra.edu)

Miscellany

 

NEW EXHIBITION

"SILVER SPEAKS: Traditional Jewelry from the Middle East"

October 27, 2002 - May 31, 2003

Middle Eastern Jewelry & Costumes from Yemen,

 Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Egypt

 

[The exhibit is from the private collection of Marjorie Ransom..]

Opening Reception Tuesday, October 29,  6-8 pm

The Bead Museum

 400 7th Street NW (D St.)

Washington DC 20004

Tel: 202-624-4500

Museum Hours:

Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 11 am - 4 pm

Saturday, 12-4 pm, Sunday, 1-4 pm

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[posted 7/30/01]

 

 

New York University

LL.M. in Public Service Law

 

NYU School of Law has created the first-ever LL.M. degree in Public Service Law as part of the Global Public Service Law Project.

The one year LL.M. in Public Service Law is only open to candidates who will have at least two years of post-graduate public service work experience upon arrival. The Global Public Service Law Project defines public service broadly to include such areas as the provision of legal services, human rights and labor advocacy and organizing, civil society and institution building, the protection of the environment, the rights of women, indigenous peoples, or minorities, as well as government work such as criminal prosecution or defense. Scholars are required to complete twenty-four credits while at NYU School of Law, eight of which must be in an area of specialization. Scholars choose an area of specialization from the following: political and civil rights; social justice and economic rights; criminal justice; international public service law and practice; or institutional, practical, and managerial issues in public interest law practice. At least ten students will be non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will receive a full tuition waiver, travel, and stipend. United States citizens and permanent residents are not eligible for a Global Public Service Scholarship, but they may be considered for partial scholarships on a case by case basis.

 

Application Process

 

The deadline for applications for the 2002-2003 term will be December 1, 2001. Late applications may be considered. Late applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all of their materials by mid January. The LLM-PSL application for 2002-2003 will require:

 

• Application form

• Application fee (65 USD- by international money order payable in U.S. dollars)

• TOEFL score of at least 600, with a 60 minimum on each section. For the computer-based TOEFL, 250 is required with a 25 minimum on each section

• Two letters of recommendation (at least one of which should speak to the applicant's work experience)

• Academic Transcript

• Rank in class (if possible)

• Essay: "Briefly describe a current legal dilemma, controversy or issue facing a country, region or the world and suggest a strategy you would use to address the problem." (500 words)

• Essay: "Describe the most gratifying experience of your legal career." (250 Words)

• Personal Statement: "Your personal statement submitted in support of your application should focus on your experience in public service law and your commitment to the practice of law as a public service profession."

• Resume or C.V.

 

• Application forms are available after mid August, 2001. Applicants can apply online, download an application, or request an application at the N.Y.U. School of Law website http://www.law.nyu.edu/admissions. Applications can also be requested by writing NYU Law Admissions, 110 West 3rd Street, New York, NY 10012, USA.

 

Visit http://www.law.nyu.edu/globallawschool/gpslp.html for more information about the Global Public Service Law Project, or contact us via e-mail at law.gpslp@nyu.edu if you have substantive questions about the LL.M. in Public Service Law.

 

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[posted 7/11/01]

FOR SALE: Two Jambiyyas:

 

(1) Modern: made according to my instructions in the 1980s by some of the best craftsmen in the Sana'a suq at the time:

-green horn handle (probably water buffalo horn), with typical (faux) coin decorations;

-beige leather covering over wooden sheath; decorated and sewn with dark brown leather

-belt is dark brown leather, 6.5+cm wide (with supplementary narrow belt for adjusting);

-this jambiyya is in absolutely new condition

-$300 OBO

(2) "Antique": made prior to WWII, perhaps as early as WWI era:

-dark brown wood handle;

-handle wrapped in silver cord in the center, and just above the hilt;

-dark leather covering over wooden sheath; upper one-half covered with hammered silver in a floral pattern; lower half covered in leather with thin silver cord-work beaten into the leather; lower end (tip) of sheath (about 3.5+ cm) covered in plain silver;

-belt is cloth, almost 8cm wide, decorated and covered with pattern weave in multiple muted colors; the adjustable part is leather; the sheath is held to the belt by two rings of silver held by silver wire;

-this jambiyya has obviously been worn, but it is probably a museum piece

-$750 OBO

Contact Kurt Wenner at mwwenner@northlink.com

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[posted 2/2/01]

Conference Information and Abstracts Posted:

"THE PLACE OF ANCIENT AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TECHNIQUES IN YEMEN TODAY:

PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES"

Sanaa, Yemen (June 18-20, 2000)

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[posted 2/2/01]

 

Textile Museum Displays Unparalleled Collection

of 1000 year old Inscribed Yemeni Ikats

 

"A Calligrapher's Art: Inscribed Cotton Ikat from Yemen," opening on January 26, 2001 at The Textile Museum will feature early

examples of the cotton ikats of Yemen, dating from the 9th and 10th centuries. All of the textiles featured in the exhibition were acquired in Egypt in the first half of the 20th century by The Textile Museum founder George Hewitt Myers. The Textile Museum's collection is among the most significant holdings of these historical textiles in the world. Some of the textiles are exquisitely gilded and elaborately inscribed in Arabic with ink and gold leaf, while other textiles featured in A Calligrapher's Art are embroidered in a simpler style, with inscriptions combined with an array of geometric patterns. The exhibition, which closes April 29, 2001, marks the first time these textiles have been shown as a group.

 

These expressive textiles, bearing decoratively embellished and elaborately plaited Arabic inscriptions (representing both historical statements and pious formula), convey a sense of delight as a dyer's art, and also the joy of calligraphy. As such, A Calligrapher's Art explores four themes: a calligrapher's art, the embroiderer's art, the dyer's art, and the weaver's art.

 

The inscribed textiles featured in the exhibition are unique in their use of gold leaf outlined in black ink. The gold leaf was applied to starched and pressed fabric in much the same way as it would have been used by a calligrapher working in ink on paper or vellum. The textiles also include calligraphic representations of interlaced lettering and ornamental finials and floral motifs similar to those found on Yemeni coins of the same period.

 

The embroidered textiles featured in the exhibition have small-scale geometric designs which are repeated to create space-filling patterns. This deceptively simple patterning uses variations of a double running stitch to achieve a sense of both clarity and embellishment.

 

Ikat is a warp-resist technique most often associated with Indonesian textiles. The warp yarns are bound in sections and dyed prior to weaving; the bound sections resist the dyes. The resulting color changes in the warp yarns lend a distinctive striped pattern in the finished textile. The etymology of the word ikat suggests the possibility that these techniques may have been introduced to Southeast Asia and Indonesia by Arab traders as early as the 8th century.

 

When Baghdad was capital of the Islamic empire, the distinctive striped cotton textiles from Yemen were sought after far and wide. Today, only a small number of textiles, such as those featured in A Calligrapher's Art, survive in museum collections. A Calligrapher's Art is curated by Carol Bier, Curator for Eastern Hemisphere Collections at The Textile Museum. She acknowledges the collaboration of Mohamed Zakariya, an Islamic calligrapher; Dr. Michael Bates, curator of Islamic coins at the American Numismatic Society in New York; and William Lewin and Davida Kovner, conservators of gold leaf, in contributing their knowledge and expertise to the analysis and understanding of these important textiles. The exhibition is drawn exclusively from the collections of The Textile Museum.

 

Founded in 1925 by George Hewitt Myers, The Textile Museum is an international center for the exhibition, study, collection and preservation of the textile arts.

 

The Museum explores the role that textiles play in the daily and ceremonial life of individuals the world over. Special attention is given to textiles of the traditional societies of the Near East, Asia, Africa and the indigenous cultures of the Americas. The Museum also presents exhibitions of historical and contemporary quilts, and fiber art.

 

With a collection of over 16,000 textiles and carpets and an unparalleled library, The Textile Museum is a unique and valuable resource for people locally, nationally and internationally. For further information, call (202) 667-0441.

 

For more information or photographs, please contact Julia Neubauer, Public Information Assistant, The Textile Museum, 202- 667-0441, ext. 17. The Textile Museum is a private, non-profit museum open Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5.00. THE TEXTILE MUSEUM is located at 2320 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008-4088.

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[posted 11/4/00]

Arab Film Distribution in association with Felix Films (UK)

 

is proud to present

 

The North American Tour of the feature documentary

 

"The English Sheikh & The Yemeni Gentleman"

 

A film by Bader Ben Hirsi

 

Date: From November, 5, 2000- 24th November 2000, the filmmaker will be present at screenings in US and Canada.

 

U.S TOUR &endash; with filmmaker Bader Ben Hirsi

 

 

5th Nov London &endash; Los Angeles &endash; UCLA

6th Nov Los Angeles &endash; UCLA

7th Nov Los Angeles &endash; UCLA &endash; Screening 3:00pm

c/o Jonathan Friedlander, Centre for Near Eastern Studies.

jfriedlander@isop.ucla.edu - Tel: (310) 825-1181

 

8th Nov Santa Barbara &endash; UCSB

9th Nov Santa Barbara &endash; UCSB &endash; Screening 6:00pm

c/o Garay Menicucci, UCSB, Middle East Center.

Gmenicucci@isber.ucsb.edu - Tel: (805) 893-5034

 

10th Nov Chicago &endash; Screening 8:15pm

11th Nov Chicago

c/o Martin Rubin &endash; The Film Center

mrubin1@artic.edu - Tel: (312) 443-3608

Congress Plaza Hotel (312) 427-3800

 

12th Nov Georgetown Washington D.C

13th Nov Georgetown &endash; Screening

c/o Anne-Marie Chaaraoui, Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies,

chaaraoa@gunet.georgetown.edu - Tel: (202) 687-6215

 

14th Nov Princeton &endash; Screening

15th Nov Princeton

c/o Samer Traboulsi,

straboul@Princeton.edu - Tel: (609) 688-9116

 

16th Nov MESA &endash; Orlando &endash; Screening

17th Nov MESA

18th Nov MESA &endash; Screening

c/o Taffy Bodman, Middle East Society of Academics

taffbod@email.unc.edu - Tel: (919) 942-2778

 

19th Nov Detroit &endash; Screening

c/o Rijin Sahakian, ACCESS Arab Film Festival

rsahakian@accesscommunity.org - Tel: (313) 843-2844

 

20th Nov Columbus Ohio &endash; Screening

21st Nov Columbus Ohio

c/o Kim Schreiber Middle East Studies

schreiber.38@osu.edu - Tel: (614) 688-4406

 

22nd Nov . . . . . Toronto

23rd Nov Toronto

24th Nov Toronto &endash; possible screening Canadian-Yemeni Community Center

25th Nov Toronto-London &endash; arrive 26th.

 

For further info e.g. time and venue, contact:

John Sinno &endash; AFD &endash; info@arabfilm.com (206) 322 0882

 

 

Booking Agency: Arab Film Distribution

2417 10th Avenue East

Seattle, WA 98102

Tel: 206 322 0882

Fax: 206 322 4586

info@arabfilm.com

www.arabfilm.com

 

This lyrical film introduces us to Bader Ben Hirsi, a British-born Yemeni living in London after his parents' exile from the Yemen. Bader returns to the Yemen to re-discover his country, its people and traditions. Under the guiding hand of eccentric Englishman Tim Makintosh-Smith, who has been living as a Yemeni in the ancient city of Sana'a for the past 16 years, Ben Hirsi travels throughout his ancestral homeland.

 

A friendship soon develops between the 'Sheikh al Nasara' (Sheikh of Christians) and 'The Yemeni Gentleman' who appear to be living parallel existences. Elaborate stories and experiences are exchanged as they journey together throughout the magical Yemen; from the Northern Highlands to the Red Sea Coast and from the nostalgic Aden to the splendid Wadi Hadramaut. The ancient World Heritage city of Sana'a is well represented, as are the derelict homes of Bader's long lost ancestors.

 

Exquisitely filmed by the award-winning cinematographer Koutaiba Al Janabi, The English Sheikh & The Yemeni Gentleman features the haunting melodies of the talented British-Yemeni composer Ahmed Al Abdali.

 

"The English Sheikh & The Yemeni Gentleman"

 

Duration: 75 minutes

Language: English with some sub-titles

Format: NTSC Beta SP, VHS

Filmed on: 16mm film, Beta SP and DV minicam

 

 

Production Company: Bader Ben Hirsi

Felix Films Ltd.

60 Frognal

Hampstead

London NW3 6XG

United Kingdom

Tel: + 20 7435 3615

Fax: + 20 7435 0097

benhirsi@felixfilms.co.uk

www.felixfilms.co.uk

 

 

Technical Information:

 

 

Directed & Produced by...Bader Ben Hirsi

Featuring...Tim Mackintosh-Smith

Cinematography ... Koutaiba Al Janabi

Sound...Tom Theakstone

Editor ... Cliff Homow

Music Composed by...Ahmed Al Abdali

Sound Mix ... Ben Young

Assistant Producer... Matt Heavens

Researcher... Chloe Edwards

Researcher... Louise Johnson

Translation ...Rafah Sobh

Production Manager...Hana Ali

Production co-ordinator..Amanny Mohamed

MESA Pictures Yemen [posted 9/99]

The MESA Bulletin featured photographs of Yemenis for two consecutive issues (Winter 1998 and Summer 1999). The picture on the left is "Yemeni Jew selling jewelry in the market north of Sa‘da, February 1987." The picture on the right is "Market north of Sa‘da, Yemen, February 1987." Both photos were taken by Ann Lesch, bulletin editor.

 

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MERIA RESEARCH GUIDE [posted 9/99]

This issue contains the first item in our new Research Guide, on how to research Yemen. The goal is to produce a brief account of how to use contemporary sources to research countries and topics on the Middle East. We will publish individual items in MERIA News, put them on our webpage, and eventually distribute a booklet collecting these items. We recommend you save these items for your future needs. So far, we have commissioned articles on Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates. To propose a contribution on a country or topic, write: <besa@mail.biu.ac.il>.

 

Special Report: Researching Yemen

By Eric Watkins*

Yemen News tries to give readers a broad, balanced, and objective coverage of one of the least reported countries on earth. Toward that end, we consult a wide variety of web sources and, on a daily basis, email our findings free to subscribers.

 

One of the best sites we have found is that run by the American Institute for Yemeni Studies <http://www.aiys.org>. This is a mastersite which

contains links to some 200 other websites devoted to Yemen. Looked at from the standpoint of news gathering, the AIYS site has some useful

contributions to make, though of varying quality.

 

Go to the site and click on its link to Yemen Webdate. That will take you to several other choices, including Yemen News (no relation to us!). Click that and you will find an array of news sources to look at. Here is where you will find the variations in quality.

 

AIYS sends you to a preset search engine with a very long address: <http://www.newsindex.com/cgi bin/process.cgi?query=Yemen&mode=any>. We have examined a lot of news search engines and this is not one of the

better ones. We suggest you go instead to <http://isleuth.com> or to even to <http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/World/Yemen>, both of which provide a much better selection of news items. And, when we seek out very specialized information, we regularly go to <http://www.google.com/>--a new and extremely versatile search engine.

 

AIYS also directs you to <http://www.arabicnews.com/>--a useful site which we often consult, largely because of its Arab sourcing and because of its sense of insider reporting. Another site AIYS points to is <http://www.al-bab.com>. This site gets a mixed review: while it appears

to be comprehensive, balanced, and objective, it actually is fairly selective, follows the Yemeni government line, and avoids anything tending

toward criticism.

 

The AIYS site also links to a number of leading Yemen newspapers, whether government controlled, opposition controlled or independent. Of the independents, Al-Ayyam is by far the best. Among the English-language newspapers, AIYS offers three: The Yemen Observer (opposition-run) at <http://www.theyemenobserver.ndirect.co.uk>, Yemen Observer (government-run) <http://yemenobserver.com.ye/> and The Yemen Times independent) <http://www.yementimes.com>.

 

Finding up-to-date news on Yemen is for us a daily job. Filtering through the thousands of web pages devoted to Yemen is time-consuming and not always rewarding. But, when looking for good background material on almost any subject to do with Yemen, we find the AIYS site a good place both to start and to end up. In our book, it gets a five-star rating.

 

* Eric Watkins is a London-based commentator, specializing in the Middle East and Central Asia. He also edits Yemen News. To subscribe to Yemen News, write: <eric.watkins@virgin.net>.

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Yemenis Claim Ownership of Mars [July 24, 1997, The Associated Press]

SAN`A, Yemen (AP) -- Three Yemeni men claiming ownership of Mars have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. space agency NASA for invading the red planet, the weekly Al-Thawra reported Thursday. It said Adam Ismail, Mustafa Khalil and Abdullah al-Umari presented documents to Yemen's prosecutor general which they said proved their claim. ``We inherited the planet from our ancestors who had lived on it 3,000

years ago,'' the Arabic-language paper quoted the men as saying in one of the documents.

 

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Pathfinder spacecraft landed on Mars July 4. Its Sojourner rover has been exploring the planet and sending back photos and data for analysis.

 

``Sojourner and Pathfinder, which are owned by the United States government, landed on Mars and began exploring it without informing us or seeking our approval,'' the men said.

 

The men demanded the immediate suspension of all operations on Mars until the disclosing any information pertaining to Mars' atmosphere, surface or gravity before receiving approval from them or until a verdict is reached.  

 

• The King's Dictionary: the Rasûlid Hexaglot. Edited by Peter B. Golden. Leiden: Brill, 2000. xii, 418 pp., ISBN 90 04 11769 5. [Review forthcoming in YU]

 

• The Manuscript of al-Malik al-Afdal al-‘Abbâs b. ‘Alî b. Dâ‘ûd b. Yûsuf b. ‘Umar b. ‘Alî Ibn Rasûl: A Medieval Arabic Anthology from the Yemen. Edited with an Introduction by Daniel Martin Varisco & G. Rex Smith. Warminster: E. J. W. Gibb Memorial Trust by Aris & Phillips, Ltd, 1999, 550 pp., $160.00, ISBN 0 906094 32 1. [Review forthcoming in YU]

 

This is a facsimile edition of a mixed manuscript owned by a Yemeni sultan of the 14th century. For ordering information, contact The David Brown Book Company, POB 511, Oakville, CT 05779 (e-mail: david.brown.bk.co@snet.net)

 

• Finding Your Way through Middle Eastern Urban Literature. Michael Bonine has recently published The Middle Eastern City and Islamic Urbanism, an 887 page annotated bibliography published by Bonner Geographische Abhandlungen and priced at $48.50. This is a useful book for those interested in Yemeni architecture. For more information, contact Michael Bonine, Geography and Regional Development, Harvill Building, Box 2, University of Arizona,Tucson, AZ 85721. His fax is 602-621-2889.

[posted in YU 37 (1995)]

 

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Research Queries

 

Please send any research queries to the editor.

 

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