The historic Jeddah festival “Kunna Kida” (We were like that) mixed entertainment with history to give Jeddah visitors a chance to reconnect with the city’s past traditions.
By portraying professions that are no longer in business, the festival aims at publicizing the old traditions, cultures, and way of life in places like Jeddah and Hijaz.
Forty-nine different activities were exhibited including antique collections, collections of old photos and books, food, clothing, and toys. A unique showcase of an old fashion classroom showed how children learned decades ago. With 40,000 attendees on the first day, more people enjoyed the fun reaching approximately 80,000 people per day. One million visitors are expected attend the festival.
Salama Idress Ali, whose father is a famous boat-maker, explained to Arab News that he inherited the boat making profession. Ali explained the boats on display are the oldest boat models used in the past by Red Sea fishermen. “I learned the art from him, but now we only make decorative models. If anyone wants any type of boat replica, they place an order and we make it at home,” he said.
He also told Arab News that in the past anyone was permitted to go fish in the sea. “Certain types of boats are now obsolete,” Ali said. “The captain of the boat back then knew how to change the direction of the sail just by using the strings,” he clarified.
One memory Ali’s father always remembers is the day he caught a shark in the Red Sea. The skeleton is on display telling the story of those days. “I am glad I have a chance to showcase these old talents and profession as these days no one is aware of this history,” he said.
A 75-year-old Egyptian, Ateya Mohammed Ahmed, was also a part of the festival. He set up his small shop of hand crafted wood camels, toys, jewelry, and antique coffee jars as “Algoz al Hara.” He recalls when he used to bring these traditional items from Egypt almost 20 years ago and sell them to the wholesale shops in Balad.
Living in the Balad old district, Ahmed told Arab News that he traveled to the Kingdom very young as a carpenter and painter, and has been living in the Kingdom for the past 43 years. “The Balad streets were not crowded like today, it was very peaceful,” Ahmed said, adding, “Life was so good and full of beautiful people who love and help each other.”
After spending his whole life in the Kingdom Ahmed says, he does not have a nationality but belongs to Saudi and its people. That is why he participated in this Jeddah Heritage festival to let people know the history and traditions of the Kingdom. “I am too old but I am full of love for this country and people; I am very happy the government organized this heritage festival here so the people will come back to their roots,” he said. Ahmed no longer works as a carpenter saying, “I have eye problems that prevented me from seeing clearly and continue my work as a painter and carpenter.”
Imam Sadiq, showcased antique cars in the festival explained that the vintage cars give a glimpse of how people traveled. One of the cars exhibited was a 1966 Ford pickup, 1954 jeep, 1968 fire brigade engine. Such cars were only affordable in those days for elite members of the society.
A small corner resembling a classroom gave a vibe of the old school days, reminding people of the way students respected their teachers. Despite being seated on the floor, students obeyed their teachers unlike today’s students who express less respect for their tutors.
At the open area, the smell of traditional food brings up memories as delicious authentic dishes was on display including Kabaks, Balila, Falfil, Mutabkah. It reminded people of a time when the family dined and socialized in the small open restaurants.
Museum of Abdul Rauf Khalil at Bait Badeeb portrayed a picture of the old lifestyle with the antique photographs and collections.
“This wasn’t my first visit to the area but it was different” said visitor Maryam Rahman, “The festival was an excellent combination between fun and history in order to learn about the people and history of Jeddah."
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