In Dubai, artisans pass Emirati crafts onto generations to keep heritage alive
Inside a traditionally built home, a group of women and craftswomen sit together in a circle as they weave colored palm fronds, an ancestral Emirati heritage craft called Al Khous.
Shamma Al Saadi, learned weaving from her grandmother and joined the centre to teach others everything she knows.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“I know how to work with Safafa (Al Khous), Al Talli, and Al Burqa. Since I like these crafts, I have to teach the future generation, to pass on our heritage across generations,” said the 37-year-old Omani artisan.
Students visit the Al Shindagha Museum in Dubai, UAE. (Reuters)
Curious to discover what’s behind the modernized front of Dubai, Veronica Smudlers came to learn how to make Al Khous products.
“I came to learn the art of Khous and get to know a little bit more about the Emirati heritage and I am a content creator so I would love for more people to see what's behind the surface of Dubai and learn the rich culture and heritage of Emiratis,” said the Spanish national.
Across the hall, a traditional embroidery called Talli is also being taught to young students from Umm Suqueim school, who were closely watching craftswomen weaving threads to create patterns.
Using a small stand called Kajooja and a bolster-shaped cushion, the threaded patterns are used to make accessories or decorate garments.
“I really liked it, as I learnt many new things and the cultures of our ancestors. I thank everyone who taught me and I hope I will teach it to my children and grandchildren,” said young student, Alia Mourtada.
Fearing that these traditional crafts would one day disappear, the manager of the Turath Centre for Traditional Handicrafts, the educational arm of Al Shindagha Museum, Um Obeid, said that their goal is to popularize these skills in the modern world.
Al Shindagha Museum, is Dubai’s largest heritage museum, in the heart of Al Shindagha Historical Neighborhood that reflects Dubai’s past and presents a glimpse into its future.
Read more: Sharjah Museums Authority organizes exhibition on Emirati dagger craftsmanship
Also Read
-
Sharjah Museums Authority organizes exhibition on Emirati dagger craftsmanship
Sharjah Museums Authority is organizing an exhibition putting the generations-old craft of making traditional daggers under the spotlight and to ... Art and culture -
Emerging Saudi craftswomen get a fresh start at AlUla design workshops
The oldest girls’ school in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla has launched an initiative that helps female artisans create commercially viable collections ... Art and culture -
Fighting to preserve Armenian culture, cuisine and crafts in crisis-hit Lebanon
In Lebanon, struggling workshops have been forced to shut down as customers are less willing to spend what little money they have on handmade crafts. ... Features -
Egyptian artist Hany Genedy crafts pictures with salt
Egyptian artist Hany Genedy focuses as he carefully pours white salt onto a black surface to create an image of actor Al Pacino.Genedy experimented ... Art and culture -
In old Damascus, war threatens Syrian handicrafts
The war in Syria has taken a toll on the country’s renowned traditional craft, from ornate wooden furniture to the rich, golden stitching of its brocade fabrics Features -
Reviving a legacy: Moroccan artist supports traditional handcrafts
Through a combination of Islamic teachings and arts, Sara Ouhaddou, is attempting to shed light on the works of Moroccan craftsmen Variety -
Egypt holds seventh annual festival to promote traditional crafts
The seventh annual festival of traditional and heritage crafts was inaugurated under the auspices of the Egyptian ministry of culture's sector of fine ... Art and culture -
Sales of Siwi handicrafts give boost to local women
The handicraft shops in the center of Siwa are suffering sluggish sales as a result of the ongoing tourism slump. Visitors are few and far between and ... Life
