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Theculture ofYemen has an ancient cultural history. Due to its unique geographic location, Yemen has acquired a very distinctive culture from its neighbors,historically andculturally.
Literature in Yemen encompasses bothfolk literature such as traditional songs, oral stories and poetry, as well as the works of modern writers of poetry, fiction, non-fiction and drama. According to Mark Wagner, an academic on Arabic literature, "Yemeni authors through the years have tackled a range of themes, including emigration, exile, racism, Muslim-Jewish relations, and cultural pluralism."[1]Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Saqqaf's 1927 book, "The Girl from Garut", is regarded as the first novel by a Yemeni writer.[2]
Besides the large number of works inspired byIslamic oral or written literature, there was a distinctYemenite Jewish tradition of poetry and prose until the exodus ofYemenite Jews around 1950.[3]
The music of Yemen is primarily known abroad for a series of pan-Arab popular stars. In theArab world, Yemen has long been a cultural center. Yemen's national anthem is "United Republic" written byAbdallah "al-Fadhool" Abdul Wahab Noman.
UNESCO proclaimed the tradition of poetic songs inSana'a, calledal-Ghina al-San'ani, aMasterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2003.[4]
The history of Yemeni theatre dates back at least a century, to the early 1900s. Both amateur and professional (government-sponsored) theatre troupes perform in the country's major urban centers. Many of Yemen's significant poets and authors, such asAli Ahmad Bakathir, Muhammad al-Sharafi, andWajdi al-Ahdal, have written dramatic works; poems, novels, and short stories by Yemeni authors, such asMohammad Abdul-Wali andAbdulaziz Al-Maqaleh, have also been adapted for the stage. There have been Yemeni productions of plays by Arab authors, such asTawfiq al-Hakim andSaadallah Wannous, as well as by Western authors, includingShakespeare,Pirandello,Brecht, andTennessee Williams. Historically speaking, the southern port city of Aden is the cradle of Yemeni theatre; in recent decades, the capital city of Sana'a, has hosted numerous theatre festivals, often in conjunction withWorld Theatre Day.
Yemeni cuisine is entirely distinct from the more widely knownMiddle Eastern cuisines, and even differs slightly from region to region.
Chicken,goat, andlamb are eaten more often thanbeef, which is expensive.Fish is also eaten, especially in the coastal areas.
Cheese,butter, and otherdairy products are less common in the Yemeni diet.Buttermilk, however, is enjoyed almost daily in some villages where it is most available. The most commonly used fats arevegetable oil andghee used in savory dishes, whilesemn (clarified butter) is the choice of fat used inpastries.
Although each region has their own variation,saltah is considered the national dish. The base is a brownmeat stew calledmaraq, a dollop offenugreek froth, andsahawiq orsahowqa (a mixture ofchili peppers,tomatoes,garlic, andherbs ground into asalsa).Rice,potatoes, scrambledeggs, andvegetables are common additions tosaltah. It is eaten traditionally with Yemeniflatbread, which serves as a utensil to scoop up the food.
Shakshouka is a popular dish in Yemen.[5] Shakshouka is made witheggs,meat,tomatoes,peppers,onions, andspices (often includingcumin,turmeric, andchili peppers).[6] It is usually served with Yemeni flatbread orwhite bread as a utensil.
Other popular dishes includeaseed,fahsa,thareed,samak mofa,mandi,kabsa,fattah,shafut, andfatoot.
Shahi haleeb (milk tea, served afterqat),black tea (withcardamom,clove, ormint),qishr (coffee husks),qahwa (coffee),karkadin (an infusion of dried hibiscus flowers),Naqe'e Al Zabib (cold raisin drink), anddiba'a (squash nectar) are examples of popular Yemeni drinks.Mango andguava juices are also popular.
Malooga andlahooh are the most popular kinds of flat breads found in Yemen. Malooga is eaten withbean dishes, such asful medames (similar torice and beans). Lahooh is eaten withcurries,stews, andsoups, as well as rice dishes.
Bint al-sahn is a popular dessert dish, which is eaten withhoney.
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Qat, also known as Khat (Catha edulis), is a widely cultivated plant in Yemen and is generally used for chewing. When khat juice is swallowed it produces an amphetamine-like effect. Yemenis wear traditional costumes and chew the narcotic khat-plant in the afternoons. Chewing khat is also part of the Yemeni business culture to promote decision-making, but it does not expect foreigners to participate.
Football is the most popular sport in Yemen. TheYemeni national football team competes in theFIFA andAFC leagues. The country also hosts many football clubs. They compete in the national and international leagues.
Yemen's mountains provide many opportunities for outdoor sports, such asbiking,rock climbing,trekking,hiking,skiing,mountain jumping, and other more challenging sports, includingmountain climbing. Mountain climbing and hiking tours to theSarawat Mountains and theJabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb, including the 5,000 m peaks in the region, are seasonally organized by local and international alpine agencies.
The coastal areas of Yemen andSocotra island also provide many opportunities for water sports, such assurfing,bodyboarding,sailing,swimming, andscuba diving. Socotra island is home to some of the best surfing destinations in the world.
Yemen is ranked 150 out of 177 in the 2006Human Development Index and 121 out of 140 countries in theGender Development Index (2006).[7] Yemen is still struggling to provide the requisite infrastructure. School facilities and educational materials are of poor quality, classrooms are too few in number, and the teaching faculty is inadequate, which is why education is very poor in Yemen.
The government of Yemen has made the development of education system their top priority. Their budget share dedicated to education has remained high during the past decade[which?], averaging between 14 and 20%[7] of the total government expenditure. As of 2000 it is 32.8 percent. The education expenditure is 9.6 percent in 2001.[8] In the strategic vision for the next 25 years since 2000, the government has committed to bring significant change for the education system, thereby reducing illiteracy to less than 10% by 2025.[9]
The history ofarchitecture in Yemen begins in ancient times, when a tradition ofSouth Arabian architecture flourished in the region thanks to the rise of city states that grew wealthy on trade.[11] Developments continued during theIslamic period, displaying both local characteristics and external influences. The historic cities and towns of Yemen are also famous for their traditional tower-houses, built ofmud-brick or stone and rising to several stories tall.[11] The old cities of Sana'a,Shibam, andZabid are designated as UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.[12]
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