Osaka: Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) will host a four-day cultural programme at Expo 2025 Osaka to celebrate the Kingdom of Bahrain's National Day. The festivities are scheduled from September 17-20 and aim to convey a message to the Expo's global audience through music and cultural experiences.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the official National Day of the Bahrain Pavilion falls on September 18 and will feature a comprehensive programme of activities. Visitors to the Pavilion can start their experience with Arabic coffee and calligraphy, followed by a performance from the Bahrain Police Band under the Grand Ring, providing a festive atmosphere rooted in Bahrain's authentic identity.
The main event will take place in the National Day Hall with a concert titled "Bahrain's Music Across Time." This performance transitions between Bahrain's traditional arts and a finale that blends heritage with contemporary styles. The concert will begin with nahma and songs traditionally performed on pearl-diving vessels, followed by fjiri performed by the Qalali Folk Band. The programme will include a segment dedicated to "Fan Al Sawt," a musical genre originating in Bahrain, and will conclude with a piano solo by Bahraini artist Noor Al Qassem. Rising Bahraini talents, including Abdulrahman Awadh, Abdulla Haji, and Mohammed Aseeri, will participate under the artistic direction of Bahraini maestro Ziad Zaiman.
A video presentation will accompany the concert, showcasing significant works of Bahraini fine art by artists such as Abbas Al Mosawi and Abduljabbar Al Ghadban, highlighting the intersection of music and visual art within a unified cultural setting.
Outside the official ceremony, a parallel programme will occur across different Expo venues. On September 17, the Pavilion will host "Twenty Years Later," a performance by Hasan Hujairi in collaboration with musician Kawol Samarqandi. On September 19, the activities will encompass a range of performances from "Fjiri" and "Fan Al Sawt" to traditional melodies and an evening of Bahraini jazz and songs. The celebrations will conclude on September 20 with a multisensory programme that combines Arabic coffee and calligraphy experiences with music, featuring "Fan Al Sawt," Bahraini jazz, Bahraini songs, and traditional melodies.
For more information, visit the Bahrain Pavilion website at www.bahrainpavilion2025.bh or BACA's website at www.culture.gov.bh. Follow @CultureBah and @bahatexpo on social media.