Juha's Pictorial Formation in the Works of Al-Majd Channel for Children

Abstract

Juha is one of the most renowned folkloric figures in Arabic literature. His wide dissemination is largely due to the satirical, witty, and humorous traits that define his persona, enabling writers to employ his voice as a medium for critique and social commentary that could not be openly expressed.                                   

Al-Majd Children’s Channel has drawn on this folkloric legacy by incorporating Juha’s character into digital heritage literature. Through Juha’s voice, the channel presents moral values and ethical lessons in an engaging narrative style that combines humor with educational purpose.                                                     

This study examines two songs broadcast by Al-Majd Channel. The first, “Juha’s Nail”, depicts Juha as a humorous storyteller whose amusing tales carry wisdom and cultural values, shaping children’s behavior and interactions within their social environment. The second, “The Sultan’s Donkey”, portrays Juha as a character who blends intelligence with opportunism; by accepting the Sultan’s peculiar request to teach his donkey, he ensures that the long timeframe of the task places him in a winning position regardless of the outcome-whether the Sultan dies, the donkey perishes, or Juha himself passes away.        

The analysis adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology to explore Juha’s image as represented in these songs, highlighting the figurative construction of his character and examining the textual structure at both syntactic and semantic levels.