Sharjah24: His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, novelist, writer, and Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, has emphasised that the ability to imagine is what constitutes human existence and distinguishes mankind from other creatures.

Speaking at a panel discussion held as part of the Sharjah Market Focus programme at the 49th London Book Fair (LBF), Dr. Al Musallam added that imagination is the product of human creativity and higher intelligence, and the ability to tap into this rich resource has enabled mankind to understand and interpret unique phenomena or express their concerns, dreams, wishes and aspiration through fantastical and out-of-the-world stories and characters.   

In a conversation with academic and researcher, Sinead Murphy, at the English PEN Literary Salon at LBF 2022, HE Dr. Al Musallam stated that the disappearance of folktales across cultures around the world represents the loss of a significant part of collective human memory.
 
He spoke about the colourful characters in folktales and their role in broadening one’s perspectives on life. He also emphasised that popular stories are an efficient educational tool as their engagement-driven approach allows to reinforce cultural values and traditions instead of having to adopt predefined rigid directives or guidance.  
 
Al Musallam spoke about the city of Khorfakkan in the UAE where popular fictional stories are part and parcel of its culture and tradition. “People in my city are influenced to a great extent by fantastical folktales and exotic characters. As children, we relied on fantasy to interpret natural events and other phenomena. If we heard a dog barking or a wolf howling, or when we witnessed a natural phenomenon, we interpreted it based on the fables and myths that were passed to us by previous generations,” he remarked.

Mothers - the first treasure of knowledge
“There is a close emotional bond that forms between people and tales, particularly with bedtime stories for children. In my younger days, fables and stories were a reward given to children who show commitment, cooperate, and participate in the family’s affairs. My mother - whom I consider to be my first treasure of knowledge, would promise to tell us stories if my siblings and I helped her with housework. Children love folktales because they identify with the ‘superpowers’ of these delightful characters, which equips them to face and overcome the challenges of reality,” he added.

Fictional tales continue to address reality 
Discussing the importance of fictional folktales and their impact on everyday life, Al Musallam said: “Throughout history, humans have resorted to imagination to express themselves and stake their position in the natural world. Most folktales in Arab culture ends with the defeat of the protagonist, often from a mistake he/she has committed, and this has helped generations to model their behaviours on the values imparted through the fabric of these stories.”

“Here, we should be keenly aware that fables do not belong to the past. They may be ancient in terms of their origins, but these fables still address our reality. Folktales continue to enrich our cultural ecosystem and redefine our imagination. They have a timeless quality which makes it even more essential to strive harder to document and preserve them with objectivity and integrity,” he added.