Seminar on Nizwa highlights Oman’s rich past

The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture has organised a seminar “Nizwa: History and civilisation” which highlights the culture and heritage of Oman, especially Nizwa. It is part of the celebrations of Nizwa, the Capital of Islamic Culture, 2015.
The seminar was organised under the auspices of Shaikh Saud al Nabhani, State adviser, and in the presence of Dr Hamad al Dhoyani, Chairman of NRAA and a number of dignitaries, researchers and specialists who are interested in culture and history at the Grand Hormuz Hotel. The seminar will conclude tomorrow.
According to Dr Hamad al Dhoyani “The National Records and Archives Authority has been organising local and international conferences, seminars that concentrate on the history and culture of Oman. This joint effort with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture aims at highlighting the essence of history and culture in Nizwa and its valuable contribution in the field of science”.
‘‘The interest shown in the heritage of Nizwa contributes to promoting the study on the builders of the history that Oman has witnessed in the bygone era. This connection between the past and the present enhances confidence in the future”.
“The records that the NRAA obtained from the world’s archives highlight the magnitude of these relationships and the nature of love, peace and goodwill in international relations by which Oman impressed the world”.
“NRAA felt the necessity to highlight those roles in multiple forms, including the promotion of research, studies, and the organisation of conferences, seminars.
This seminar includes 40 researches in various historical, scientific, literary, cultural and economic fields to give a clear picture of the achievements of Nizwa in the history”. The seminar seeks to demonstrate the vital role played by Nizwa in cultural and academic fields over the centuries up to the present times.
Since the first centuries of advent of Islam in Oman, Nizwa was regarded of scientific, cultural and religiously important place.
Sources and historical documents confirm the contributions of scientists, intellectuals and imams in the prosperity of its civilisation and advancement in various fields of science.
Perhaps the saying of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, “The city of Nizwa is the stronghold of great leaders, scholars, writers and poets” is a translation of the originality of this ancient city.
The seminar includes workshops and lectures by academics, professors and researchers from inside and outside the Sultanate, with a number of research papers in the historical and geographical aspects, which included the historical status of Nizwa before the advent of Islam in addition to highlighting the scientists, intellectuals and Omani personalities in the city and the internal and external migrations across different eras.
The second aspect is the economic and social side that includes aspects of economic life, markets and trading systems and laws, as well as the population, the pattern of social life, agricultural activity, livestock, traditional foods and crafts, dress and traditional industries.
The third aspect deals with the cultural and documentary side to educational institutions (Quran schools, mosques and scientific meetings), the education system in Nizwa, and cultural productions and scientific thinkers, and the role of cultural and intellectual connection with Basra and the Morocco and Hadramout in shaping the culture of the city.
The fourth aspect discusses oral history based on oral traditions and interviews centred on Nizwa through a set of recordings and interviews with people who lived through the different eras who are now the main source of information.
A documentary exhibition organised by NRAA to coincide with the Sultanate’s 45th National Day celebrations will run until November 7, at Grand Hormuz Hotel.
It contains more than 300 miscellaneous documents, including manuscripts as well as photos, articles, maps, stamps, coins and papers. There are documents that focus on the historical relations between Oman and various countries in addition to displaying documents obtained from some international archives about Oman.