US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3178

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 003178 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
 
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. 
 
********************************************* 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
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State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
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