Clinton Bailey, an esteemed American-Israeli academic, passed away at his Jerusalem home on January 5, 2025, at the age of 88. His son Michael confirmed that heart failure was the cause. A Buffalo native, Bailey dedicated over 50 years to documenting the rich oral traditions of Bedouin tribes across southern Israel and the Sinai Peninsula, chronicling their poetry, wisdom, and rituals.
In his efforts to preserve this largely unwritten culture, Bailey traveled extensively in his Jeep to remote desert encampments, often joining Bedouins on camel treks. With his camera and tape recorder, he sought to capture the essence of a society that was rapidly evolving due to modern influences. “I decided to try to capture that culture,” he reflected in a 2021 interview regarding the donation of his extensive archive to the National Library of Israel, which included 350 hours of audio recordings. He noted the urgency of his mission as the Bedouin way of life was increasingly at risk due to urbanization and the introduction of modern technology.
The archive, described by the library as “a treasure of orally transmitted ancient culture,” is invaluable, especially as the younger generation of Bedouins navigates a rapidly changing world. Bailey's contributions have left a significant impact, earning him deep respect among the tribes he worked with, who credit him with preserving their ancient heritage amidst the pressures of modernity. His legacy will continue to inspire those committed to cultural preservation and the documenting of vanishing ways of life.
