An annual art challenge, celebrating Gulf folklore and heritage, is prominently featuring Bahraini and Dilmunian mythical figures in its 2025 edition.
The Folktober challenge, or ‘Kharareef Al Khaleej’ (Gulf myths), is set to take place in October, calling for artists to create 31 different folk characters for each day of the month.
Dilmunian dragons, ancient gods Inzak and Sin, and terrifying figures like the Khababa, Um Al Hamlool and Um Al Jazr are some of the Bahrain-related characters on this year’s prompt list.
Launched by Emirati artist Mohamed ‘MJ’ AlJneibi, this celebration of shared Gulf culture is based on ‘Inktober’, in which illustrators are challenged to create a new ink drawing every day of October.
“Folktober invites artists to explore stories from Gulf and wider Arab cultural heritage,” the 37-year-old cartoonist and comic artist told the GDN. “The challenge is designed as a daily practice with a distinctly Khaleeji spirit. Unlike the original Inktober, it sets no technical limits: artists may sketch, paint or use any medium, not just ink.”
Based in Abu Dhabi, Mr AlJneibi works across both digital and traditional media, blending mixed-media techniques with sculptural experiments in earthenware and wood.
He started the challenge last year, which saw artists from the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman coming up with their own versions of the age-old, well-loved fables.
The Folktober 2024 prompt list included beloved and feared folklore figures like the donkey monster Um Hmaar, or Hmarat Al Gayla, (noon’s donkey), and the sleep paralysis demon known as the ‘Jathoom’.
Other creatures, which share horror archetypes with cultures around the globe, include local versions of sea monsters, changelings, shapeshifters, spirits, goblins, ogres, a cyclops, werewolf, mermaid and more.
“Last year’s response was outstanding. Many established artists embraced the cultural theme with enthusiasm and the challenge quickly gained momentum,” he said.
“This second edition aims to draw even more local Khaleeji artists, while last year already attracted audiences from outside the region who were curious about Gulf folklore.
“That wider interest inspired a new goal: to share these stories globally and provide friendly, bite-sized background notes each day to help artists imagine and create.”
Although last year’s challenge listed well-known mythical beings known in every Gulf country, Mr AlJneibi decided to take a deeper dive this year, choosing to incorporate the mythology of ancient civilisations of modern-day Arabia – Magan and Dilmun – among the prompts.
The list includes Inzak, the guardian of ancient Dilmun, who is sometimes depicted as the son of the Mesopotamian god of wisdom and fresh water, Enki.
He is associated with palm trees, and was mentioned in cuneiform inscriptions uncovered in one of the Royal Mounds in A’ali, and on the Durand Stone, discovered in Bilad Al Qadeem.
Dilmun dragons or serpents, on the other hand, are horned symbols found on seals from 4,000 years ago.
A more familiar creature, still used by adults in Bahrain to scare children, is the Khababa, a jinn breathes flames who and lurks in deserted areas.
Other Bahrain-related creatures like, Um Al Hamlool, Um Al Jazr and the Lady of Pearls are lesser known. The Mesopotamian moon god, known as Sin or Nanna, is on the list as well.
“The aim is to highlight the region’s roots and show how deeply it connects with neighbouring ancient cultures. The Gulf’s rich history is something to celebrate and share.
“Although reliable information can be hard to find, the intention is not strict historical accuracy but to spark imaginative, visually compelling art.”
“It irks me how most people here know non-Arab and non-Islamic legends and myths,” Bahraini artist Narjes Ashoor, who plans to participate again in October, told the GDN.
“Activities like Folktober proves just how rich our Khaleeji cultural environment is, inspiring artists, writers and creatives to make works that represent us and our heritage.
“It makes more sense for us to make works based on our own legends, rather than import them.”
Bahraini artist Narjes Ashoor told the GDN that she is very excited to be participating again in October. “Activities like Folktober proves just how rich our Khaleeji cultural environment is, inspiring artists, writers and creatives to make works that represent us and our heritage,” she said.
“It makes more sense for us to make works based on our own legends, rather than import them.”
Meanwhile, another artist from Abu Dhabi told the GDN that she looks forward to participating with the new list, after contributing in the first iteration.
“What I enjoyed the most about the challenge is that it pushed me to make art about subjects I always wanted to draw,” an Emirati artist, who goes by as ‘Almaith’, explained.
“I’m now working on a project based on the illustrations I made in the challenge – it gave me the drive and inspiration to make something bigger.
“Thanks to Folktober, I got to know many local and Khaleeji artists,” she said, adding that having to produce a drawing a day ‘in record time’ put her art skills to the test.
Mr AlJneibi’s other folk-inspired art was featured in four issues of the Sharjah Art Foundation’s yearly comics anthology, ‘Corniche’. His most recent collaboration was with the Abu Dhabi City Street Art Project, an ongoing initiative to transform the capital into an open-air art city, as an illustrator.
n All art lovers are welcome to join the Folktober challenge – the prompts can be found on Mr AlJneibi’s Instagram page, @_mj88_.
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