Clinton Bailey, a prominent American-Israeli scholar and devoted defender of Bedouin culture, passed away on January 5 at his residence in Jerusalem. He was 88 years old. His son, Michael Bailey, confirmed the cause of death as heart failure.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Dr. Bailey dedicated over half a century to documenting the time-honored customs and practices of the Bedouin tribes residing in southern Israel and the Sinai Peninsula. With his camera and tape recorder, he trekked through the arid desert landscape, even joining Bedouin migrations via camel to authentically capture their oral poetry, folklore, communal rituals, and wisdom passed down through generations.
His research was critical as Bedouin society faced existential threats from modern developments, changing borders, and increasing urbanization. As these factors began to infiltrate their traditional nomadic lifestyles, Dr. Bailey recognized the urgency to record their culture. “I set out to preserve that culture,” he stated in a 2021 interview concerning his donation of an extensive collection of photographs and 350 hours of audio recordings to the National Library of Israel. “I could already see it was beginning to fade.”
The National Library characterized his contributions as a valuable repository of an oral heritage that might otherwise be lost, especially as younger Bedouins grow up immersed in a modern world. Dr. Bailey's legacy lives on as a testament to the rich heritage and traditions of the Bedouin people, ensuring they are remembered amidst changing times.
