Australian aborigines, the native people of Australia that lived by hunting and gathering in the remote outback are currently in Dubai to participate in the weeklong Second Festival of Cultures and Civilizations of World Deserts that concludes in Dubai International Endurance City on April 22nd.
"A series of events and activities have been organised to recreate the magic of the cultures and civilizations of people from the desert as practically the whole world is joined together by deserts. The events focus on lifestyle complete with cultural performances by artistes from the 37 participating countries," said Dr. Mohammed bin Fahad, Chairman of the Zayed International Prize for the Environment and Vice Chairman of the World Deserts Foundation.
Traditionally hunters and gatherers, aborigines are found throughout the Australian continent. They are dark-skinned, with fair hair in childhood and heavy dark beards and body hair in adult males. It is estimated that there are about 228,000 Aborigines in Australia, making up about 1.5 per cent of the total population of 16 million.
The Australian Aborigines have a rich oral tradition of legends, songs, rituals, and bark and cave paintings concerned with their Dreamtime, a primeval era when humans were first on Earth. They can be seen making drawings on sand in the Endurance City making use of powdered sugar and coloured sand. The drawings represent their religious beliefs and how their civilizations originated. This is their first-ever participation in the Middle East.
About 40 per cent of the aborigines still follow the traditional hunter-gatherer way of life and live mostly in the remote desert areas of Northern Territory, the north of Western Australia, and in Northern Queensland.
"Australia's original inhabitants, known as Australian Aborigines, have the longest continuous cultural history in the world, with origins dating back to the last Ice Age," said the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing's (DTCM), Manager Events, Marwan Juma bin Beyat.
He noted that the Australian Aborigines elicit awe, "They are a living museum preserved from the dawn of animal life on the earth and represent the concept of moral and physical perfection," Mr. bin Beyat remarked.
"Their skills in hunting, tracking and food gathering were unrivalled and a series of initiations for the boys were designed to instil both fearlessness and respect for the welfare of the entire tribe, and respect and care for a sizeable number of old people, for whom were reserved special foods that were easy to gather and hunt," Mr. bin Beyat observed.
The traditional role for Aboriginal women was that of a gatherer. They were responsible for harvesting insects, shellfish and almost all plant foods. Most regions of Australia offered a cornucopia of nutritious plant foods, even the arid desert regions.
The Aborigines are tall, well formed with limbs that are straight and muscular, their bodies erect; their heads well shaped; the features are generally good; teeth regular, white and sound.
"It I widely believed that their great dexterity and acute eyesight, enabled them to see stars that common man could only see with the telescope, and animals moving at a distance of a mile, that civilized man cannot see at all," said Mr. bin Beyat.
A series of soul-charging performances have been lined up, including interesting exhibitions and celebratory public spectacles in a variety of events featuring UAE as well as international folklore artists in disciplines ranging from music, dance, theatre to visual arts and crafts.
-End-
For further info, please contact:
Heba Al Ghais or Ajay Rajguru
BIZ COM - "For PRoactive Communications"
Suite 702, Fairmont Hotel
Sheikh Zayed Road, P.O. Box 48889
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Tel: +9714 3320888
Fax: +9714 3320999
© Press Release 2005
