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Plenary - HALL M
The presentation will explore various themes excerpted from oral history interviews, including myths surrounding the pearl diving industry, traditional child-rearing practices, coping mechanisms during crises, the empowerment of women, the promotion of national identity through education, and initiatives fostering tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
This presentation underscores the vital role of oral history in understanding the past, analyzing the present, and envisioning the future, demonstrating how these efforts contribute to the UAE’s cultural and social fabric.
Aisha Bilkhair PhD is a Research Advisor at the National Library and Archives. A Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University, she holds a bachelor’s degree in filmmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute (USA), a master’s degree in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University (USA) and a PhD in Arab Gulf Studies from the University of Exeter (UK). She is a member of several associations and committees such as the African Diaspora in Asia, National Archives’ Scientific Committee, and Heads the Tolerance Committee and the Young Historian Award, among others. Recognized as an expert in oral history, ethnographic studies, and the African Diaspora, her chief research interests are cross-cultural studies, women, youth, and the transformation of identity.
Dr. Bilkhair is a bi-weekly newspaper columnist who lectures and writes extensively on these topics, with published articles ranging from cross-cultural dialogue to the evolution of women’s education in the country. She is appointed member to the UAE National committee for Folk Music and the UAE representative in the International Council for Traditional Music & Dance (ICTMD) and the International Oral History Association (IOHA). Dr. Bilkhair is a graduate of the Government Leadership Program, Executive Leaders. She was recognized as one of the Most Influential People of African Decent (MIPAD) Creatives Edition in 2022 and many other awards since.
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