Bahrain yesterday bid farewell to cancer warrior Mohammed Saleh, widely known to children and families across the kingdom as ‘Al Hakawati Mohammed’ – the storyteller who turned illness into inspiration and pain into purpose.
Diagnosed with brain cancer eight years ago, Mr Saleh chose not to surrender to the fear that accompanied his condition.
When doctors warned him of the possibility of losing his speech and movement as side-effects of the disease, he made a life-defining decision – he would become a storyteller.
From that moment, the character of ‘Hakawati’ was born.
Through educational and entertaining storytelling sessions for children, the 33-year-old carved a unique space for himself in Bahrain’s cultural and community landscape.
Dressed in a traditional costume lovingly made by his mother, he would transform into a figure from ancient tales, breaking barriers with children and drawing them into worlds of values, lessons and imagination.
He often said the Hakawati had taken the place of his medication and that he healed through storytelling.
Mr Saleh believed deeply in giving back to the community. During his illness, he felt surrounded by the kindness and support of people, and he sought a way to repay that generosity by instilling sound values and principles in their children. His four-year-old daughter, Jood, was a constant presence at his events, helping him gauge how well his stories resonated with young audiences.
He described cancer as his ‘intrusive friend’ – a presence he learned to co-exist with, setting boundaries while refusing to let it define him. Rather than deny the illness, he said he chose to accept it as part of his journey, a perspective that gave him strength and clarity.
A sportsman who had been preparing for his black belt examination just days before his diagnosis in 2018, Mr Saleh recalled that his initial shock lasted only minutes before he realised he had walked into the hospital on his own feet – a reminder that he still possessed strength and agency.
Faith, hope and surrender to God were the pillars of his resilience. In times of pain, he would read the Quran, memorise poetry or summarise books to distract himself and continue learning.
Mr Saleh dreamed of leaving behind a beautiful memory in the hearts of others and aspired to see storytelling nurtured through dedicated educational programmes and even an academy in Bahrain.
Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Disease Patient Care chairman Zakriya Al Kadhem mourned Mr Saleh in an obituary post on his Instagram page, describing him as a ‘saint‑like’ figure whose short life left a deep and lasting impact on everyone around him.
“To describe his passing as that of someone afflicted is an injustice to him,” Mr Al Khadem said.
“He did not live long in years, because he measured his life by width, not length. He left a mark that is measured in impact, not time.”
“I will not say I am in pain – I am humbled that I did not learn enough while he was among us. He lived among us like a saint.”
Bahraini artist Khatoon Sanad also paid tribute to Mr Saleh and said he ‘left a profound mark on the world of storytelling’.
“Without a doubt, this mark remains with us; we will not forget it, nor will our children,” he added.
Mr Saleh passed away yesterday, leaving behind his family, friends and a generation of young listeners who will remember the Hakawati who taught them through stories – and lived one of the most powerful stories of all.
He was buried at A’ali Cemetery yesterday.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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