Oman based Dutch photographer Hil van der Waal has depicted the rich camel racing heritage of the country with a series of photographs that throw the spotlight on the sport, which has been in practice since ancient times. Titled ‘Camel Ardha…the story’, features images taken at the Al Fulaij race track in the Wilayat of Barka. They narrate van der Waal’s fascination for the sport, with the word Ardha (meaning ‘to perform’) juxtaposed to demonstrate the camel handling skills of jockeys.
The traditional Omani camel showcasing event ‘Ardha’ has, in fact, recently been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, notes van der Waal, who is also a member of the Photographic Society of Oman. He gained his Associate distinction (ARPS) at the Royal Photographic Society in 2011 and has travelled through and lived in various countries around the world. He is also a keen landscape and street photographer and shoots both digital, and medium format analogue.
Presenting his perspective on the sport, van der Waal explains: “Camel Ardha is a frequent event in various regions of the Sultanate of Oman. The tribal communities, mostly Bedouins, meet regularly, bringing their camels – up to 900, to participate in this particular race over four days. Oman is the only Arab country where this kind of event is practised and the tradition goes back centuries”.
The main purpose of Ardha is to showcase the beauty and strength of the Arabian camel, riding them side by side in a straight track. However, these camels don’t race; instead, the main goal is for them to run as a pair, perfectly in tandem, thus demonstrating their obedience and control by the riders.
“In this fast changing modern country, the Omani Government encourages that this old tradition is retained and such events held regularly, offering cash prizes to the winners.”