Clinton Bailey: A Guardian of Bedouin Heritage Passes Away at 88

Clinton Bailey, who left an indelible mark on Bedouin studies through his extensive fieldwork and documentation, died recently, leaving behind a legacy of cultural preservation amid rapid modernization.

Clinton Bailey, an American-Israeli scholar and passionate advocate for the preservation of Bedouin culture, passed away on January 5 at the age of 88 in his Jerusalem home due to heart failure, as confirmed by his son Michael.

Originally from Buffalo, NY, Bailey dedicated nearly five decades to capturing the oral traditions of the nomadic Bedouin tribes residing in the Negev Desert and the Sinai Peninsula. His work involved traveling extensively to remote Bedouin encampments, at times using camels for weeks on end, documenting their oral poetry, rituals, and stories using a camera and tape recorder.

Bailey's efforts were inspired by a profound awareness of the impending cultural shifts threatening the Bedouin way of life. He recognized that modernization, urbanization, and the encroachment of technology were rapidly altering the lifestyle of these tribes, which had traditionally maintained an oral culture.

“I decided to try to capture that culture,” Bailey recounted during a 2021 interview, reflecting on the urgency he felt to document the traditions that were starting to fade. He donated his extensive archive of 350 hours of audio recordings and various photographs to the National Library of Israel, where it was described as an "irreplaceable treasure" of ancient Bedouin culture, now less accessible to younger generations who have been influenced by modernity.

Dr. Bailey's impact on Bedouin communities was significant; he was held in high esteem by many tribespeople who credited him with preserving their cultural identity. His life’s work stands as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by traditional societies amidst a rapidly changing world.