Omani craftswomen: as objects of art show lasting appeal

THE dictum that 'behind every successful man is a woman' can be stretched a bit to take home wonderful memories of the ongoing Muscat Festival, thanks to a variety of activities put together by Omani women artisans and craftswomen. The Heritage Village, which showcases authentic representations of diverse lifestyles seen in various regions of the Sultanate, is an eye-opener to the rich fare of traditional arts and crafts preserved through centuries. The crafts produced in rigorous conditions by individuals or by families are most representative of Oman, its people and its past.

The Sultanate's women have played an active role in all realms of society and their contributions to developing a host of handicrafts are laudable, utilising local resources obtained from their immediate surroundings. Most of the handicraft items made by Omani women have utilitarian value even as they possess lasting appeal as objects of art. The handicrafts of Bedouin women are a major attraction at the festival. Bedouin women, their faces covered with beak masks, are seen engrossed in weaving baskets and other household items with ghadaf leaves.

The Sultanate's heritage collection is notable for Bedouin rugs finely woven in natural dyes and colours. The distinct Bedouin crafts originating out of functionality are prized for craftsmanship and beauty. Some of the finest rug weavings in Middle East are made by Bedouin women of Rimal al Sharqiyah. They are scattered and can be found in coastal settlements near Masirah island and remote areas bordering the markets of Jaalan Bani bu Hassan, Jaalan Bani bu Ali, Mintrib and Sinaw.

The Bedouins migrate to these markets during the date harvesting season from July to September. At other times they are almost inaccessible in desert environs. Isolation has perfectly preserved the tradition of Bedouin rug weaving. The durable and rich ruby-red colour of Wahiba camel bags and rugs is obtained through a lengthy process of repeated dipping and drying using a dye made from a powdered root of madder mixed with dried limes. The intricate designs, including the prized geometric raqam patterns reflect individual symbols representative of various elements of life in the desert such as bird tracks, snakes and spindles.

Husna bint Abdullah al Ghamari is an eighth grade student. She is from the Wilayat of Quriyat and is participating in the festival for the second time. Husna can be seen at the Heritage Village, demonstrating the traditional grindstone used in Omani households. This ingenious contraption works in an efficient manner and is used for grinding various cereals. A kilogram of wheat can be ground in about half an hour on the grindstone, which consists of two circular stones, one sitting on the other. The top stone, which rotates, has a hole into which cereals are put in small measure. The stone is rotated with the help of a stick attached to it.

Fresh wheat flour ground in traditional grindstone is considered the best quality flour for making brown bread and other popular varieties of bread. Fatma bint Mohammed al Mohammed, who is working at the Women's Development Centre in Quriyat, pointed out that the Ministry of Social Development was keen on promoting women's skills.

The ministry's encouragement has helped in preserving women's handicrafts in Oman, she added. Naseebah Moled from Salalah has participated in all editions of Muscat Festival. Her specialities include home-made bukhoor, (powder mix of scent) frankincense and incence burner. Bukhoor is a speciality in which each woman plays one-up with unique ingredients, which remain family secrets. A variety of bukhoor sold by Naseebah is named 'kiss me' while another is called 'call me'. Television channels and print media have extensively covered Naseebah's skills in making one of the finest varieties of bukhoor.

The main ingredients of bukhoor include base of perfumed oils and scented woods. The demand for bukhoor at Omani and Arab households will not decline despite the invasion of modern perfumes, feels Naseebah. Bukhoor is sold in the range of RO 1 to RO 10, for containers having 50 to 250 grams. Moza bint Khamis al Amri is a pleasant woman who gently speaks about her expertise in weaving handicraft items with date palm leaves.

Moza is from the Wilayat of Quriyat and the popular items woven with a touch of class include hand-held fans, small baskets to keep dates and other food items, and a hat-like lid to cover food. Traditional fans featuring colourful patterns are sold eight pieces for RO 1 while small baskets and food-cover cost RO 1 apiece. Even today a lot of people use these fans to ward off heat, she said. Moza also makes attractive, embroidered caps for small girls. The caps cost RO 1 apiece.

Shama Juma al Wohaibi from Quriyat is participating in the festival for the third time. She is a member of Al Deerah folklore band, which has 30 members, including 16 girls. The performance of Al Deerah is a combination of singing and dancing, to the accompaniment of drums and tambourine. The group regularly performs at weddings and other social celebrations, Khalid bin Nasser al Qasmi, band leader, said.

Chris Arnold and his wife Sandra from New Zealand, who are residing in the Sultanate for the past six months, visited Muscat Festival for the first time. "The atmosphere at the festival is very vibrant and energetic. This is a lively festival. We have visited many Omani villages and seen various aspects of Omani heritage and culture in those areas. The festival has brought together all these aspects under one roof. This is a wonderful occasion for foreign tourists to learn of the country's heritage and traditions, to see everything in one place," Sandra said.

"We watched a beautiful sunset at Qurum Natural Park even as the festival venue came alive, all trees lighting up in a profusion of colours. It is not possible to see everything at the festival in one trip, so we will be coming back again to enjoy the festival. This is a nice place to buy mementos for friends," Sandra added.