History of Bahraini cultural clubs retold

Manama, Nov. 26 (BNA): The Bahrain Antiquities and History Society hosted a lecture entitled "History of Cultural, Literary Clubs in Bahrain". The lecture was presented by Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah Matar, who outlined the significant traditional role of clubs in activation of the cultural scene in the Kingdom of Bahrain since the establishment of Iqbal Club in Manama in 1913 which was run by the late teacher Mohammed Saleh Khonji. Dr. Ibrahim A. Matar also recounted the establishment of Muharraq Literary Club in 1920, chaired by Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, which included the membership of many renowned Arab intellectuals and poets, such as Syrian poet Mohammed Al Forati, Iraqi poet Mohammed Saleh Bahar al-Oloom, Kuwaiti poet Khalid Al Farah, and Shaikh Hafez Wahba. The club had numerous cultural activities such as its participation in the literary festival in 1927 on the occasion of the designation of Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawqi as the Prince of Arab Poets or Amir al-Shu'ara. The club also hosted Arab writer Abdulaziz Al-Thaalibei, Traveller Amin Al Rayhani, Shaikh Mohammed al-Shenqaiti. In 1913, the Islamic Club was established chaired by Shaikh Mubarak bin Hamad Al Khalifa son of the then Ruler of Bahrain in the ancient Al-Fadhil neighborhood in Manama. The club's establishment was at the invitation of Shaikh Mohammed Rasheed Ridha. In the beginning, the club included two classrooms for teaching religious studies and modern sciences in addition to a reading room and a library. Also various cultural and literary activities were launched from Al Hidaya Al Khalifiya School in Muharraq in 1925. Dr. Matar also narrated the story of Al-Orooba Club establishment in 1937 which was concerned with culture, thought and literature. He also talked about the Ahli Club established in 1939 which used to present many theatrical performances as well as literary and cultural events.