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The Iraqi magazine At-Turath Ash-Sha'bi (The Folklore) may be considered as the first serious Arabic attempt to pay attention to the folklore and present it to Arab readers. It was thus, the first specialized journal. It appeared in September 1963 and was regularly published. It assumed an important role in publishing studies, research and texts acclimatizing with all conditions that may affect the continuity of similar publications. This periodical lasting forty years, finally ceased due to recent conditions in Iraq.
After that, another serious periodical by the name of Al-Funun Ash-Sh'abiya (Folk Arts) was published in Egypt in 1965 in a very beautiful design with the efforts of specialized scientists supported by Egyptian academicians who, for five years, contributed to it. This journal published most important basic studies on folklore. It was widely distributed in Arab countries until it ceased in 1971. However, it was revived in 1987 in a new format with a more comprehensive academic vision. It is still current In 1984, Center for Folklore for Gulf Arab States, in Doha, Qatar, published Al-Ma'thurat Ash-Sha'biya, (Folkore) journal as a new hope in the Arab arena. Publishing of this periodical continued regularly and intermittently at times due to the financial and administrative conditions of the Center until it ceased with the closure of the Center in 2005 by a decision made by its Member States. There are other specialized periodicals in this field published by some academic bodies that are locally distributed. The present situation of specialized Arabic periodicals and the desire of Bahrain to spread culture as a strategic dimension of its leading reform plan open the door to any Bahraini initiative to offer a different version of a quarterly journal concerned with Arab folklore. This initiative will be based on specialized scientific knowledge that will be issued regularly carrying the name of Bahrain to all Arab countries and connecting on a wide scale with the International Folklore Organization. (IOV)
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