Bahrain, an unassuming island in the Arabian Gulf, is a country you’d tip your hat to. Surrounded by the sea, it seems to be rising faster than any tide the water takes the shape of. The gleaming skyscrapers soar into the clouds, just like their home has developed over the last many years.
As much as Bahrain embraces the perks of modernity, Bahrainis take pride in their unparalleled heritage and tradition. The tales of souks, fortresses, and street markets are known to all those who have even mildly indulged in what the country has to offer. But tucked away in the rural villages, there’s a subculture that would make even the Lone Ranger tip his hat: Bahraini Cowboys.
But how did KHAMSA end up here? Simple – cowboys catching on as a trend has certainly caught our eye! From the fabulous Bella Hadid’s beau being a man of the ‘yee-haw!’ to present fashion looks beginning to sport the iconic cowboy hat, the horse-riding lifestyle seems to be on a roll in terms of drawing attention. Thanks to its western vibe and back-to-basics allure, cowboy culture is urging one and all to saddle up.
But who says you have to travel to the Wild West to partake in some cowboy shenanigans? KHAMSA realized that air tickets and long flights were unnecessary, for they were right here on our doorstep.
Enter ‘Bahraini Cowboys’.
At first glance, ‘Bahraini Cowboys’ seems like an oxymoron – the kind of phrase that reads like a cultural inspiration from the West. However, since the 1980s, it is indeed the case – a group of Bahrainis, mostly from rural villages, get together to ride their horses dressed in full cowboy attires. These jockeys have spent years living with horses and know their ways. Throughout their lives, they have consumed popular culture like the westerns of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. These leave a remarkable impression on them – and most of us if we are being honest – of the cowboy being the quintessential hero, the main character, the one who is living at the centre of it all.
Joining KHAMSA in capturing these Middle Eastern cowboys is Ali Al Shehabi, a Bahraini photographer who shares a deep association with his home country. An accomplished camera maestro, Ali prides himself on spotlighting the finest and most nuanced traits of his subjects. When it comes to Bahrain, he is quick to passionately speak at length about what it has to offer. While most would associate Bahrain with an urban atmosphere and the sound of fast-paced lifestyles, Ali points out a parallel world within the island nation – one wherein Bahraini cowboys exist and gallop with life and zest.
The cowboy culture is synonymous with a style of living in the West, one that has neatly translated itself into every medium. Kids and adults both love cowboys and their way of being. Some reduce this cultural phenomenon to an adult game of dress-up, but that would be a massive (and incorrect) oversimplification. Bahraini cowboys come together because of their love for horses, which is what continues to bond them. In addition to living and breathing everything about these animals, they are also avid showmen. Their passion and confidence while doing what they do is exemplary and show the world that their Bahraini identity is unmistakeable.
The sight of a Bahraini cowboy traversing across an arid desert in the Middle East instead of some American plains is surreal to witness, no matter how many times you end up seeing it. It’s like a unique fusion where the East literally meets the West, tip their hats to each other, and partake in a shared passion for riding and the joys it brings.
“The cowboy attire, although unimaginable in the searing heat of Bahrain, is possibly a nod to the rugged, independent spirit they embody. Indeed, it is a subculture that is part tradition, and part rebellion, but entirely unique to Bahrain.”
Bahraini cowboys are probably best defined by their camaraderie and unity in what they love, irrespective of background. These jockeys, young and old, gather to celebrate their shared passion for horses, swapping stories, and probably even a “yee-haw” or two.
So next time you’re wandering through the Bahraini countryside, don’t be surprised if you spot a cowboy—or, rather, a Bahraini cowboy—riding by. And if you’re lucky, they might even tip their hat to you.