Clinton Bailey, an American-Israeli academic residing in Jerusalem, transformed the understanding of nomadic Bedouin traditions through decades of fieldwork, capturing their rich oral cultural heritage before it faded away.
Clinton Bailey: Preserver of Bedouin Heritage Dies at 88
Clinton Bailey: Preserver of Bedouin Heritage Dies at 88
A pioneering scholar dedicated to the documentation and preservation of Bedouin culture passed away, leaving behind a vital archival legacy.
Clinton Bailey, a distinguished American-Israeli scholar famed for his work in safeguarding the ancient traditions of the nomadic Bedouin tribes of the Middle East, passed away on January 5 at the age of 88 in his Jerusalem home. His son, Michael, confirmed that heart failure was the cause of death.
Originating from Buffalo, Bailey devoted nearly 50 years to immerse himself in the Bedouin way of life, meticulously chronicling their oral poetry, wisdom, rituals, proverbs, and more. Armed with a camera and tape recorder, he traversed the arid landscapes of the southern Israeli Negev Desert and Sinai Peninsula, often accompanying Bedouin groups on their migrations for weeks at a time.
Bailey's dedication stemmed from a pressing concern: the Bedouin culture he revered was facing swift transformation. Modern influences such as borders, urban development, and technology were encroaching upon their traditional lifestyles. "I decided to try to capture that culture," Bailey remarked during an interview in 2021 as he donated an extensive archive of 350 hours of audio recordings and countless prints to the National Library of Israel. "I could already see it was beginning to disappear."
In its statement, the National Library hailed his collection as a “treasure of orally transmitted ancient culture that is now irreplaceable, especially as the younger generations of Bedouin are growing up immersed in modern life." Bailey's invaluable contributions ensure that the rich tapestry of Bedouin culture will continue to resonate amidst the rapid change surrounding it.
Originating from Buffalo, Bailey devoted nearly 50 years to immerse himself in the Bedouin way of life, meticulously chronicling their oral poetry, wisdom, rituals, proverbs, and more. Armed with a camera and tape recorder, he traversed the arid landscapes of the southern Israeli Negev Desert and Sinai Peninsula, often accompanying Bedouin groups on their migrations for weeks at a time.
Bailey's dedication stemmed from a pressing concern: the Bedouin culture he revered was facing swift transformation. Modern influences such as borders, urban development, and technology were encroaching upon their traditional lifestyles. "I decided to try to capture that culture," Bailey remarked during an interview in 2021 as he donated an extensive archive of 350 hours of audio recordings and countless prints to the National Library of Israel. "I could already see it was beginning to disappear."
In its statement, the National Library hailed his collection as a “treasure of orally transmitted ancient culture that is now irreplaceable, especially as the younger generations of Bedouin are growing up immersed in modern life." Bailey's invaluable contributions ensure that the rich tapestry of Bedouin culture will continue to resonate amidst the rapid change surrounding it.
