Growing Up in South Arabia

by Ahmad Al Sari

There is a Hadhramaut gene encoded in all of us.
It passes through generations to keep us all tuned to the land, its history, its deep valleys, and especially its customs and values. Ahmad Al Sari was a boy born in Al Mukalla just two years after the end of World War II-a tumultuous and often difficult time for many people in the region. But despite any hardships, the Hadhramaut region, and the rich cultures and customs of the people living within its borders andbeyond, was instrumental in shaping his view of the world.This story revolves around the first ten years of the life of Ahmad Al Sari and the state of the Arab world in the 1950s, but it also explores broader concepts. He tells the expansive story of Hadhramaut and its people, who over centuries spread out across the globe sailing to Africa, India, the Far East, and parts of Europe, where they settled and raised families, they integrated and prospered, and ultimately changed their environments. The number of Hadramis in the Far East was recently estimated at 25 million. And yet they never lost their roots, the invisible tether that linked them to the motherland.

178 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[Lynn S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Growing Up in South Arabia and I am in awe of this author. Ahmad told me his story of growing up in what is now Yemen to age ten. He informs the reader of his Hadhramaut family and the impact his early life had on him throughout his life. He tells us personal stories from small memories of Eid celebrations to major conflicts that caused his family to leave. He also speaks of his current life and family in Saudi Arabia. I did have to pull up a map of the Middle East to understand the details Ahmad tells us, which I think are so important. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in what Yemen was like after World War II and anyone who loves to read about Arab culture that actually extends into Asia, India and beyond.

[Amr Khashoggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing from the heart and this is not only about the personal experience of his life in South Arabia, especially Al Mukalla and Tarim but also the geopolitical events over the years as background. I learnt a lot from him about Hadhramaut, its culture, its people, economic straits and relationships with neighboring countries as well as faraway countries like India, Indonesia and Malaysia becoming homes for many Hadhramis in diaspora.

[Loomy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really engaging and insightful, I loved the stories and learned a lot about life in Hadhramaut. However, I think it could use some restructuring and editing, as there are a few typos and repetitions.