Keeping Omani musical heritage alive: New study calls for moving beyond archives
image: An elderly Omani musician performs using a traditional wind instrument, reflecting the deep-rooted musical heritage of the Sultanate of Oman
Credit: Deanship of Research SQU
Muscat, Oman — Traditional music in the Sultanate of Oman represents a rich and diverse form of intangible cultural heritage, deeply embedded in social practices and collective memory. However, despite its cultural significance, effective approaches for engaging with and safeguarding this heritage remain underexplored, raising concerns about its gradual erosion.
A new study by Dr Ayat Al-Mataniya, Head of the Department of Music and Musicology, proposes a balanced framework for preserving Omani musical heritage. The research emphasizes that heritage can only remain vibrant when institutional efforts are aligned with active community participation.
The study examines the tension between national cultural policies and local practices. While official institutions often prioritize systematic documentation and presentation to support national identity, tourism, and economic development, this approach can result in relatively static archives that overlook the dynamic nature of musical traditions.
Drawing on ethnographic interviews with government officials, musicians, and community archivists, the research highlights an alternative perspective. Community-led initiatives adopt flexible and participatory methods, documenting live performances and everyday musical practices, often through digital platforms and social media. These efforts capture the evolving and adaptive character of traditional music.
The findings suggest that combining institutional archiving with community-based approaches offers a more effective model for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. By bridging structured preservation with lived cultural expression, this approach ensures that Omani musical traditions remain both protected and actively practiced.
The study ultimately raises a critical question: how can traditional music be preserved without reducing it to static archival material? The answer, it argues, lies in recognizing heritage not only as a national asset, but as a living and continuously evolving cultural practice.