Question
PROMPT: Conduct a Cultural Analysis of a Community: Research & analyze a specific “community”, and explain the community’s significance.
The student will select a subset of the world population, define the community, describe its beliefs, practices and/or “markers” (ex: a specific language, a specific code of ethics, its history, etc.), and present its icons, members of note (“celebrities”) and/or leaders, and explain the significance of this community.
In other words, the student will be writing a profile of a community—one that is based on research and clearly explains that community’s significance.
Solution/Answer
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Cultural Analysis of a Community in Dubai (Bedouins Community)
Introduction
Currently, Dubai has over 200 nationalities that harmoniously exist in the city (Cole, 237). In light of this, the city is identified as a cultural melting hub. The most praiseworthy point is that all the communities co-exist in peace with utmost respect for each other religion and cultural beliefs. The rationale for understanding community practices in Dubai is to appreciate how to interlink with the day-to-day life challenges in the country. In addition, as Al-Gazali et al. (196) pointed out, a key to a long-term business success is the capacity of adapting to cultural differences among citizens of a country. In light of this, this research paper focuses on the Bedouin community which is an Arabic semi-nomadic ethnic group. According to Daoud et al. (391), this is a group that for a long time inhabited in the Arabian and Syrian deserts.
Bedouin Community Definition
Bedouin is a community that traditionally engaged in the nomadic herding, agricultural practices and often practiced fishing. This is a community characterized by a rich history ranging from the 16th century. The uniqueness of their living standards with minimal association with modernity makes the community history to be unique and exciting. For instance, the community name is strategically obtained from Badawiyin which implies a desert dweller. According to a report by Al-Fityani and Padden (453) that highlighted on the community practices in Dubai and UAE, it is evident that their initial practices are directly related to some of their practices that are evident today among the Arabs and non-Arabs communities in Dubai.
In its initial formulation, it was segmented into tribes with a strong honor system characterizing their practice. This system made the community members be extremely loyal to both their immediate families, the extended families and later to their nation. In addition, Shmueli and Khamaisi (10) pointed out that each of the Bedouin community was led by a Sheikh with all the members’ origination from the same ancestor. There have been multiple efforts of integrating the traditional community practices in the modern Dubai society. This is attributed to the fact that, after the 1960’s boom of the UAE oil industry, this society was evidently characterized by desert living Bedouins together with the other communities who made their living through sea practices such as Pearl diving.
Beliefs of the Community
Despite a few members of the community remaining as Christians since the early Islamic period, majority of them are Sunni Muslims. In this case, majority of them abide by the Muslim religious beliefs such as Ramadan fasting, obligatory prayers performance and celebration of the major Islamic holidays. Since their early existence, the community has long practiced different ceremonies and rituals. These include the unique celebrations of weddings, naming of their children through rituals and children circumcision. Interestingly, Davis and Hassan (109) noted out that the illness of the community members is linked to multiple factors. These include the imbalances of elements in the body and possession by spirits or inversion by germs. In such occurrences, the community used to use local prepared herbal remedies, use of brands, amulets wearing and using Quranic inscriptions. Nevertheless, as Al-Gazali et al. (190) argued, the community no longer believes in these traditions, and they currently believe in Western Medical treatments in particular when the traditional interventions fail to bear any fruit.
According to a study highlighted by Daoud et al. (387) the Bedouins community is perceived by other Arabs as being the ideal Arabs. This is mainly due to their rich oral poetic tradition, their lifestyle for herding animals and belief in the traditional code of honoring others. As opposed to the modern Arabs, this community sourced for their support, divine intervention and any form of intervention from their kinship networks. They believed that these were the sources of their safety to their families and for their properties protection (Weber & Alan, 129). In addition, marriages were only supposed to be done among the members of the community being their norm. They believed that if a person married a partner outside the tribe, their gods would be angry leading to diseases to other members of the society or a disaster punishment. The family structure was composed of approximately 8 children with the mother having the major role in children upbringing with a limited intervention from the father. In addition, Al-Fityani and Padden (450) revealed that it was the ultimate responsibility of the entire village to assist in the upbringing of a Bedouin child.
Community Practices
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