Yemen celebrates culture: folk art festival combines tradition and resistance!

Yemen celebrates culture: folk art festival combines tradition and resistance!

On May 19, 2025, the second day of the Sana'a Folk Arts Festival, Yemen celebrates its cultural diversity as part of preparations for the 35th National Day on May 22. The festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and supported by the Heritage and Cultural Development Fund, takes place in Tahrir Square and lasts a total of four days. The celebrations are themed “From Sanaa to Gaza” and reflect the unity and resilience of the Yemeni people.

The folk arts festival presents performances from Tihami cultural heritage accompanied by Zamel songs that emphasize Yemen's cultural identity. These songs address the need to preserve and defend cultural heritage. In addition, they express the support of the Yemeni people for the Palestinian cause and Gaza. Al-Bara dances, which are also part of the program, symbolize resistance against hegemony and normalization.

Cultural diversity in Yemen

Yemen, known for its vibrant art scene, combines local and colonial influences. The metropolises of Sanaa and Aden are considered cultural hubs with a rich history of art, despite the challenges posed by the “invisible war” that has raged since the Arab Spring. This war has had a devastating impact on the country's cultural heritage as many heritage sites have been destroyed by air raids, resulting in a loss of cultural identity. Nevertheless, Yemeni artists and activists remain optimistic.

Asim Aziz, an award-winning filmmaker from Aden, fights for individual fulfillment in art. In his opinion, there is little room for experimental art in Yemen, but he sees Aden as a source of inspiration. In his short film “1941,” which won international awards, he addresses cultural isolation and dealing with trauma. Nevertheless, he sees numerous hurdles in film production, including financing and social norms. Theater in Yemen has almost completely disappeared since 2014 due to a lack of funding and infrastructure.

Commitment to social justice

Najla Alshami, who lives in Brussels and runs the cultural institution Yemen Art Base (YAB), is also committed to social justice and humanitarian work in Yemen. She emphasizes the need for access to the art scene and strives to create a network for Yemeni artists. Her life in Belgium gives her more freedom and access to finance, but this does not stop her from criticizing the bureaucratic hurdles in Yemen for funding.

Sadiq Y. Al-Harasi, program coordinator and visual artist in Sanaa, is another protagonist committed to preserving Yemen's cultural heritage. With his literary program Kitabat, he contributes to Yemen's cultural archiving and addresses the challenges of cultural erasure in his work. Through projects such as the e-journal, which digitizes old Yemeni cultural magazines, and podcasts, he shares personal and cultural stories.

Supporting Yemeni artists can be done by visiting exhibitions, purchasing works of art and raising awareness on social media. Initiatives such as “Culture Networks Yemen” and “Yemen Creative Hubs” support artists through training and offer funding opportunities to support the creative scene in Yemen and make it visible.

Overall, the folk art festival not only showcases Yemen's cultural diversity, but also highlights the challenges facing the arts scene amid ongoing conflict. The hope for a revival and appreciation of cultural heritage remains a driving force for many artists in the country.