The Diwaniya: A Defining Element of

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 003178

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DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, INR/NESA; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KU
SUBJECT: The Diwaniya: A Defining Element of
Kuwaiti Culture


1. Introduction: Post reporting often refers to
"diwaniya" visits, important sources for
information on domestic and international
developments. Most readers recognize the diwaniya
as an uniquely Kuwaiti political, social, and
cultural institution, but what exactly is a
diwaniya and what role does it play in Kuwait?
LES Political Specialist has visited diwaniyas
with Ambassadors and Embassy officers for almost
20 years. He compiled this overview for those who
have not been fortunate enough to enjoy Kuwaiti
hospitality.

Defining Diwaniya
--------------


2. Diwaniya is widely heard in Kuwaiti
vernacular: "See you at the Diwaniya," "When are
you going to the Diwaniya?" or "Today, we will
complete our discussion at the Diwaniya". What is
the origin of the word diwaniya? Most immediately
associate the word as the root for the English
word "divan," or think of the several Arabic
definitions referring to councils, secretariats,
and other office functions. According to the
abridged Kuwaiti encyclopedia, the diwaniya "is
that part of the house where men usually meet to
discuss the affairs of their lives be it [pearl]
diving or travel and associated memories; trade
and its profits; and construction-related
matters."


3. But the Kuwaiti diwaniya is more than a place,
it is a tradition engrained in Kuwaiti society.
Historically the diwaniya is viewed as a social
institution identified with the family owning it
and was limited to a certain class of merchants
and the well-to-do. Kuwait's first diwaniya was
that of its first ruler, Shaykh Sabah I, and
founded in 1756. Several other historically
relevant diwaniyas are also associated with
prominent Kuwaiti families or tribes: Al-Khrafi
Diwan (family of the current Speaker of Parliament
Jassem Al-Khorafi); Al-Naqeeb Diwan; Bourosli
Diwan; Al-Othman Diwan; Al-Ghanem Diwan; Al-Jassar
Diwan; Al-Sabih Diwan; Al-Bader Diwan; Al-Bahar
Diwan; Al-Saqer Diwan; Al-Adasani Diwan; Ma'rafi
Diwan; Al-Roumi Diwan; Al-As'ousi Diwan; and Al-
Shaye Diwan.

A Bridge between the Classes
--------------


4. The traditional Kuwaiti diwaniya played a
significant role in Kuwaiti society. While
traditionally, holding a diwaniya was reserved for
the upper classes and enhanced the host's social
status, underprivileged Kuwaitis frequented
diwaniyas, fostering unity among Kuwait's social
classes. The diwaniya was a place where people
from all walks of life met to exchange
congratulations on holidays and for marriage
ceremonies, as well as to receive condolences.
Traditional diwaniyas also hosted Iftar banquets
for the poor and the needy during Ramadan, and the
first hospital in Kuwait was hosted by a diwaniya.

Political Origins of the Diwaniya
--------------


5. The traditional Kuwaiti diwaniya also had an
important political role. The diwaniya was where
senior Kuwaitis endorsed the first ruler of Kuwait
and where consultations and decisions on the
affairs of state occurred. It was also the venue
for the debates on creating the first Shura
(consultation) Council at the beginning of the
rule of Shaykh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in 1921.
Diwaniyas hosted meetings to identify the names of
voters for the election of the Legislative
Councils in 1938 and 1939, and further served as
polling stations and ballot-counting locations.

The Diwaniya as a Cultural Center
--------------


6. The role of the diwaniya transcended political
life. It was a cultural base and means for
transmitting information before the development of
modern media as well. The diwaniya was an
intellectual forum where people discussed various
issues about Kuwait including cultural and
literary matters, as well as a meeting place for
men of letters, scholars, poets and politicians.
Contributions and donations for building the first
regular school in Kuwait were made at a diwaniya.
The first Kuwaiti library was established in a
diwaniya. Additionally, the diwaniya was once the
sole place for listening to radio and following
news as only the wealthy were able to provide such
services.

The Effect of the Oil Boom
--------------


7. The 1936 discovery of oil and its export
changed the trajectory of Kuwait. The economic
boom and subsequent social changes promoted
greater hospitality, facilitated receiving
numerous guests, and gave rise to the spread of
diwaniyas. While traditional diwaniyas still
existed, widespread economic prosperity allowed
anyone who wanted to open a diwaniya to do so. As
a result, the diwaniya concept changed with the
social, economic, and cultural changes Kuwait
experienced, such as increased material abundance;
architectural changes in the construction of
Kuwaiti houses allowing space for diwaniyas;
support from the government in the form of
frequent visits to diwaniyas by State officials,
ministers and decision-makers; achievement by
diwaniyas of some political, social and economic
gains; a limited number of entertainment venues;
and a cultural preference to have a gathering
place for men apart from women. These factors
have dramatically contributed to the increase in
the number of Diwaniyas, making it no longer
limited to a specific social class, but rather an
institution shared by the majority of Kuwaiti
society.

The Modern Diwaniya
--------------


8. Today, according to historian Khaled Al-
Mughamis, the diwaniya is "like a club
incorporating a group of people who form a small
society, where they discuss their life affairs
such as living conditions, trade, politics, and
intellectual matters." In addition, diwaniays can
be a place for "playing cards, singing, serving
banquets and talking about various aspects of life
in addition to taking advantage of `Wasta'
(influence)." There are now thousands of
diwaniyas which generally can be grouped in the
following categories:

a) Traditional diwaniyas which are associated
with the name of the owning family and are
considered a historic extension of the original
Kuwaiti diwaniyas.

b) MP's diwaniyas where Members of Parliament
meet their constituents to review legislative
updates and to resolve constituent problems.

c) Youth diwaniyas where young men pass the time.
These diwaniyas are unique because they are open
daily and extremely informal in nature.

d) Entertainment diwaniyas where people meet for
leisure activities such as playing cards and other
games.

e) Neighborhood or "open air" diwaniyas where the
owner of the house puts a carpet and several
wooden chairs outside of his home and invites his
neighbors to sit and talk.

f) Kinship diwaniyas where male relatives meet
weekly. Members of the same family historically
lived near one another, but are now more typically
resident in various neighborhoods throughout the
capital and its suburbs.

g) Religious diwaniyas which feature lecturers
who deliver sermons or religious instruction.

h) Political diwaniyas created to achieve
political goals and promote political - liberal or
conservative - ideas.

i) Social diwaniyas which are mostly casual,
opening their doors on social occasions such as
feasts, weddings, and other celebrations; during
the holy month of Ramadan; and for receiving
condolences.

j) Educational Diwaniyas or "literary salons"
where officials, scholars, or intellectuals gather
for lectures.

k) Specialists diwaniyas whose members share a
profession such as the Faculty Diwaniya,
Engineers' Diwaniya, or Physicians' Diwaniya.
l) Craftsmen and Amateur diwaniyas for those who
share a certain craft or a specific hobby, such as
the Fishermen Diwaniya and Ship Builders Diwaniya.

m) NGOs diwaniyas located inside governmental
centers and institutions and which are subsidized
by the Government such as sports club diwaniyas
and co-ops (neighborhood shopping centers)
diwaniyas.

n) Kuwaiti diwaniyas abroad for students,
expatriates, and vacationing Kuwaitis.

o) Shared or joint diwaniyas for frequenters of
both genders. Among the most famous of these are
the diwaniya of Higher Education Undersecretary
Dr. Rasha Al-Sabah, cousin of the Amir and Prime
Minister, and the diwaniya of former diplomat
Mohammed Al-Qadiri and his wife prominent artist
Thuraya Al-Baqsami.


9. Many government ministers and other GOK
officials also host diwaniyas as part of their
performance of their official duties. Since the
May 16 decision to grant women full political
rights, more women have announced the formation of
diwaniyas. (Note: Most diwaniya hosts and guests
are men. Traditionally, outside of mixed
diwaniyas, there is little mixing of the sexes.
Female Emboffs have been welcomed at several
diwaniyas, but only when the host has given
permission. It is not unusual for some men to
leave the diwaniya when female Emboffs enter.
Some women do host diwaniyas, usually during the
day and they tend to be more social in nature.
Local attorney Badria Al-Awwadi, however, hosts a
weekly breakfast diwaniya with a focus on
environmental issues and women's rights. End
note.)

Nothing Can Stop a Diwaniya
--------------


10. For those Kuwaitis who remained in Kuwait
during the 1990-91 Gulf War and Iraqi occupation,
the diwaniya had a very special role. It was a
place for organizing acts of resistance and
providing services to citizens. After liberation,
the diwaniya remained a venue for consultations on
the future political situation in the absence of
formal, government political institutions.


11. For almost 250 years, Kuwait has maintained
the diwaniya as an important cultural
characteristic, passing it down from generation to
generation. Over time, it has changed from a
meeting place for the ruler and the ruled and an
institution open to only the wealthy, to an
integral part of Kuwaiti society. It takes many
forms: it is a venue for conveying opinions and
exchanging informal talks, and a place for
relaxing with friends, a mini-parliament. For
EmbOffs, it is an important source of information,
a place to make and maintain contacts, and an
important venue for explaining U.S. foreign policy
to a diverse audience. In post's view, and
certainly that of most Kuwaitis, the diwaniya is
what really distinguishes Kuwaiti society from
that of its neighbors.

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