The Heritage Day: Our Heritage is our Legacy

14/12/2022; Egypt's Public Library

Summary

The team attended an event organised by the city of Luxor, to discuss heritage with stakeholders, policy holders, various industries, and communities. Here, the University of Lincoln and Ain Shams teams met with community and industry representatives of traditional skills, to better understand their practices and the importance of their craft to wider cultural identity.

The event was to promote Luxor intangible heritage in connection with various stakeholders, emphasising traditional foods, practices, and beliefs. The event brought together people from different societal groups, to experience how local Luxor people view their city, and the importance of their heritage.

Interviews were conducted with Luxor people to evaluate opinions on Luxor heritage and how it has been impacted recently, which were granted ethical approval by the University of Lincoln, Favourable Opinion Number 7971.

Displays from the event

Various displays from the workshop exhibited local practices and traditions, such as cooking, jewellery making, calligraphy , and carpeting. The principle aim of the displays was to present the intangible heritage of Luxor in a vibrant and exciting environment, to promote the development of ideas and mutual understanding.

Elkahameye

Nasser Elkayamy

Nasser has been working in the carpet industry for fifty years, inheriting the practice through his ancestors. The specific method he uses is called 'Elkahameye', indicating its origins within his family. The method he uses is an adaption of Khayamiya, which is an elaborately decorative Egyptian textile art which dates back to Ancient Egypt.

He makes cushions and upholstery. He is pictured with some of his creations.

His practice highlights the importance of traditional techniques in preserving diverse intangible histories, to prevent family customs from diminishment.

See: Cabana for Khayamiya products

Calligraphy

Calligraphy seems a forgotten art in today's digital world; people in Luxor are working to protect this part of their heritage by educating the youth in these practices.

This young girl is proud of her art, and of the long-standing heritage it represents.

Jewellery

Local jewellery industry workers keep alive traditional methods of weaving and beading. The Heritage Day was an opportunity for them to share the cultural importance of their craft with various stakeholders.

Local Food

Steigenberger, a local hotel, displayed local foods. This gave visitors to the Heritage Day a chance to explore local cuisine, of which the Luxor population is proud of. Displays also presented spices which are sold at the Local Market, as well as homemade breads.