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Tribune News NetworkDohaThe ‘Coffee for Two – Cultures in Dialogue’ will continue the cultural initiative that started with the international travelling exhibition ‘The Majlis – Cultures in Dialogue’ in 2018, which has already touched downs six European capitals.Under the cultural partnership of the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) and the UNESCO Gulf States and Yemen Office, the ‘Coffee for Two – Cultures in Dialogue’ exhibition, which will run until September 21, 2022, celebrates the culture and traditions around the beverage as a universal language that connects people around the world, promotes cultural exchanges and social cohesion.The expo, which is being held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, is open to the public at Katara Building 47 gallery 1 from 10am to 10pm daily. With a selection of around 50 artifacts, including photos, videos and quiz games, the exhibition explores the cultural practices related to the home-roasted Arabic coffee and the functions it performs for the communities. The ‘Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosity’ was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015, based on the nomination submitted by United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. It is, according to UNESCO, “an important aspect of hospitality in Arab societies and considered a ceremonial act of generosity.” Prepared in front of guests, Gahwa is enjoyed by men and women from all segments of society, particularly in their home or in a majlis, the social space present in every Arab home.Since there are many ways to prepare and sip coffee, for instance, some fast, some slow, some with milk and sugar, some hot and some cold, and some served in large mugs or smaller cups, the exhibition ‘Coffee for Two – Cultures in Dialogue’ investigates the history of the known brew with maps that track the coffee route from the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt, where it was first cultivated, until the flourishing plantations in Latin America even before becoming a dominant beverage in Europe in the 17th century.The exhibition also highlights the evolution of coffee over time and its modern adaptation. Archival photos from FBQ Museum’s collection, in comparison with contemporary snapshots of coffee-to-go consumption, show how knowledge and traditions constantly merge to create a culture of social interaction and exchange. Commenting on the expo, HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim bin Faisal Al Thani said, “The “Coffee for Two” exhibition is a continuation to the travelling cross-cultural exhibition ‘The Majlis - Culture in Dialogue’, which started in 2018 and has since toured numerous European cities. This year, in conjunction with the FIFA World Cup event, we aimed to bring ‘Culture in Dialogue’ exhibitions to Qatar, beginning with this special ‘Coffee for Two’ themed exhibition at the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara), which symbolises the international hospitality culture in general and Arab hospitality in particular.”He added, “The exhibition aims to encourage visitors from all over the world to sit in the Majlis to listen to stories, engage in conversations and exchange ideas about what they see; by exchanging impressions of the exhibition and learning about cultures to enhance international, Arab and Islamic relations through art and artifacts with the aim of spreading the message of peace and prosperity and broadening our understanding of other people and places.” Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti said, “The exhibition is rich and valuable, and it sheds light on a common culture among the peoples of the whole world, not only in our Arab region, which is coffee, which has traditions and meanings that differ from one country to another, but all of them have the culture of celebration and social cohesion in common.” Salah Khaled, director of the UNESCO Gulf States and Yemen Office, said: “By inscribing the element of ‘Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosity’, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage stressed the cultural functions of Arabic coffee are an expression of hospitality, generosity and social etiquette. It encourages dialogue, sharing of knowledge and experiences, and mutual respect between cultures, faiths and communities. It is an important element of shared culture transmitted from generation to generation, giving the communities the sense of identity and continuity.”
