Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka hosts official reception on National Day
Osaka, Sep. 18 (BNA): On the sidelines of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s National Day celebrations at its pavilion Connecting Seas at Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) organised a high level official reception.
The event was attended by Noor bint Ali Al Khulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board; Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of BACA and Commissioner General of the Pavilion; and Okai Asako, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Bahrain, along with senior ambassadors and commissioners of pavilions from GCC states, as well as Arab and other countries.
Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed emphasised that Bahrain’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka reflects the Kingdom’s firm belief in culture as a means of strengthening human connection, advancing development, and building a brighter and more peaceful future. He said the national presence delivers Bahrain’s message that culture is a universal language, transcending borders and bringing peoples closer together. He added that the Pavilion’s National Day programme embodies its theme Connecting Seas and highlights Bahrain’s historic civilisational and economic role as a centre for cultural and intellectual exchange.
He also expressed pride in the partnerships, sponsors, and contributors who have shaped this national participation, noting that their collective spirit has enriched Bahrain’s presence at the Expo with a distinctive dimension worthy of its standing on the world stage.
The programme included a dinner prepared by Bahraini chef Tala Bashmi, alongside performances of traditional Bahraini music.
The Pavilion’s National Day celebrations continue until September 20, delivering Bahrain’s cultural message to Expo visitors through music and diverse experiences. The Pavilion hosted a musical evening entitled Twenty Years Later by artist Hasan Hujairi in collaboration with musician Kawol Samarqandi.
The programme also featured an Arabic coffee and calligraphy experience, a performance by the Bahrain Police Band under the Expo’s Grand Ring, and a main concert Bahrain’s Music Across Time in the National Day Hall. The concert presented traditional and contemporary Bahraini performances, beginning with nahma and pearl-diving work songs, followed by fjiri performed by the Qalali Folk Band, and fan al-sawt, a genre developed by Bahraini musicians Mohammed bin Faris, Dhahi bin Walid, and Mohammed Zuwayed. It concluded with a piano solo by Noor Al Qassim and performances by Abdulrahman Awadh, Abdulla Haji, and Mohammed Aseeri under the artistic direction of Ziad Zaiman.
The concert was accompanied by a video presentation showcasing works by Bahraini artists Abbas Al Mosawi, Abduljabbar Al Ghadban, Abdulla Al Muharraqi, Abdulkarim Al Bosta, Hussain Al Sunni, Rashid Al Araifi, Rashid Suwar, and Yousif Qassim, bringing together music and visual arts in a single cultural setting.
The celebrations will conclude on September 20, with activities including Arabic coffee, calligraphy, and musical performances featuring fan al-sawt, Bahraini jazz, Bahraini songs, and traditional melodies.
