Oral Narrative.. Jordan's Memory Against Forgetting
Amman2 min read
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Participants in a cultural seminar titled 'Jordanian Oral Narrative' emphasized the importance of oral storytelling in preserving national and social memory, and safeguarding stories and experiences that have contributed to shaping the social and cultural history of Jordanian society.
The seminar, held on Tuesday evening at the National Library, was part of the cultural program of the Ministry of Culture accompanying the events of the Amman International Book Fair 2026, with the participation of Major General Samir Binno and Sheikh Talal Al-Maadi, and moderated by Professor Dr. Majd Al-Din Khammash, in the presence of a number of intellectuals and those interested in cultural and literary affairs and visitors to the fair.
Participants discussed the importance of oral narrative as one of the essential components of collective memory, due to its inclusion of stories, accounts, and human and social experiences that reflect multiple aspects of the lives of Jordanians, and highlight the richness and diversity of the popular heritage.
They pointed to the need to collect and document oral narratives according to scientific methods that preserve their content and contexts, especially since part of this heritage is transmitted orally across generations, which makes it susceptible to loss or change over time.
The seminar also addressed the role of oral narrative in enriching studies and research related to the social and cultural history of Jordan, as it is a source that illuminates aspects of daily life, customs, traditions, and experiences that do not always appear in written sources.
Participants stressed the importance of integrating the efforts of cultural and national institutions and researchers in collecting, preserving, archiving, and making these narratives available to researchers and future generations, which contributes to protecting the cultural heritage and enhancing awareness of its value.
The seminar touched on what Jordanian oral narrative represents as an important space for understanding the transformations that Jordanian society has undergone, through stories and accounts that have preserved aspects of collective memory and contributed to transmitting values and experiences from one generation to another.
The seminar was held at the National Library as part of its role in preserving national memory and documenting Jordanian cultural and intellectual output, and enhancing the presence of culture and books in public life, within the cultural events accompanying the Amman International Book Fair 2026.
