Wednesday 02 / October / 2024
Wilayat Wadi Bani Khalid presented a spectrum of its traditional art forms during a competition of the wilayats, held as part of the Muscat Festival celebrations in Amerat, where 350 participants displayed the wilayat’s art, culture, and environment.
Farmers displayed some of their wares in one corner, while others showcased the wilayat’s agricultural wares by bringing small crops or showcasing how date palms, onions, and other plants were planted in the wilayat. Other participants showcased how rosewater is harvested, as well as how Shuwa and Madhbi are prepared.
To represent the Bedouin lifestyle, visitors discovered how they knit with wool, and how the young take care of camels. Women of the area dressed in traditional clothes displayed their self-run businesses, which included knitting and selling clothes or specialising in beautifying the home of a bride-to-be.
Wilayat Wadi Bani Khalid’s men often use raw materials to construct their own furniture and tools, especially from the bark and leaf of date palms, as well as stems and stumps. Men made chairs, baskets and tables with exquisite proficiency. Experts said they “were surprised by the rising demand for these wares".
Wadi Bani Khalid also showcased its own versions of the Razha, as well as sword duels and Aazi, in which folk singers sing of pride and let their voices be heard while complimenting others. A group of children proved to be the stars of the show as they played traditional games from Wadi Bani Khalid, such as Anbar, a game where children will aim a ball at a target and if they miss, they must run, as others throw the ball at them, as well as Al lakd and Mulafaifa.
