Tariq Abdulhakim

Tariq Abdulhakim was a Saudi composer, singer, and music researcher, and a historian who collected documents and musical instruments. He is known as the "Dean of Saudi Art". He was born in 1338 AH/1920 CE in the Al-Mathnah district of Taif Governorate [1].

His career spanned composition and singing, research into regional music, an interest in folk arts, and the leadership of musical ensembles, alongside documenting Saudi Arabia's musical heritage [1].

Tariq Abdulhakim was born in 1338 AH/1920 CE in the Al-Mathnah district of Taif Governorate, and from an early age excelled in performing local songs and the folk arts of Taif [1].

He joined the army and in 1952 was sent to Egypt as the first Saudi to study military band music, where he learned to read and write musical notation [1].

After returning to the Kingdom, he founded the Saudi Army Music School in 1954 and trained 14 complete military march bands that were distributed across various cities and regions of the Kingdom [1].

Tariq Abdulhakim composed more than 500 musical works and several folk songs, and wrote more than ten books and manuscripts covering regional music, instruments, and musicians [1].

He helped found the Arab Saudi Society for Culture and Arts in 1972 [1]. In 1976 he was appointed head of the Kingdom's Folklore Department, and he formed a national troupe that performed at major occasions [1].

In 1981 he won the UNESCO International Music Prize as the first Arab to receive it, and the sixth person in the world [1].

He was elected president of the Arab Music Council of the Arab League in 1983, and he was re-elected in 1987 as the representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [1].

He received the Order of Merit from King Fahd bin Abdulaziz in recognition of his achievements, foremost among them the founding of the Saudi Army Music School, the development of the Saudi song, and the documentation of musical heritage [2].

The Ministry of Culture announced on 27 Dhu al-Hijjah 1441 AH/17 August 2020 the establishment of a music museum dedicated to the late artist in the city of Jeddah (Al-Balad), to be permanently housed in Bayt Al-Manoufi in the historic district registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014 [1].

On 15 Jumada al-Akhirah 1445 AH/28 December 2023, the Museums Commission inaugurated the "Tariq Abdulhakim Center" in the historic district of Jeddah (Al-Balad) under the slogan "A Melody Between Heritage and the Future" [2].

The center houses a museum that perpetuates the late musician's biography along with a collection of his archive and belongings, and a center for music research. It opened its doors to visitors from 30 December 2023 [2].

It falls within the Museums Commission's efforts to achieve the objectives of the National Strategy for Culture emanating from Saudi Vision 2030, and it lies within Historic Jeddah [1][2].

Q: Who is Tariq Abdulhakim? A: He was a Saudi composer, singer, and music researcher known as the "Dean of Saudi Art", born in 1338 AH/1920 CE in the Al-Mathnah district of Taif Governorate.

Q: What are his most prominent achievements? A: He founded the Saudi Army Music School in 1954, won the UNESCO International Music Prize in 1981 as the first Arab to receive it, and composed more than 500 musical works and wrote more than ten books and manuscripts.

Q: Where is the Tariq Abdulhakim Center located? A: It is located in the historic district of Jeddah (Al-Balad), and the Museums Commission inaugurated it on 28 December 2023.

Q: Which society did he help found? A: The Arab Saudi Society for Culture and Arts in 1972.

Q: When was the museum's establishment announced? A: The Ministry of Culture announced its establishment on 17 August 2020, to be housed in Bayt Al-Manoufi in Historic Jeddah.

Related topics on the platform include Talal Maddah, Saudi Ardah, and Saudi National Museum [1][2].