Egyptian revives 5,000-year-old martial art

Egyptian revives 5,000-year-old martial art

Radwan Mansour inherited his almost two-meter tahteeb adhere from his father in Luxor Governorate to the south of Cairo.

Mansour, who is now in his 50s, told Al-Monitor that his father taught him the policies and arts of the preventing recreation when he was 10 a long time aged and it has ever since been a meaningful section of his lifetime.

Tahteeb is well identified in the Upper Egypt governorates. According to folklore researcher Masoud Shoman its name derives from “hatab,” Arabic for “dead branches.” He included that the strikes are not essentially hard and that gamers make a stage each time their stick touches their competitor.

Tahteeb was extra to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2016 as a martial artwork. The organization’s description reads, “Its job has since improved to that of a festive activity but some of the symbolism and values associated with the apply continue to be,” and “The principles of the game are based on values these types of as mutual regard, friendship, bravery, toughness, chivalry and pride.” In cooperation with UNESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Lifestyle is trying to find to revive well known desire in the video game.

In accordance to Shoman, the recreation is 5,000 many years old. Depictions of tahteeb have been observed engraved on the walls of the temples of Abydos in Sohag and Bani Hassan cemetery in Minya. It has been documented as a martial art carried out by troopers in preparing for beat and by frequent folks to defend them selves their attributes. Now, it has turn out to be a common efficiency at social functions this sort of as weddings, in particular in Upper Egypt.

He expressed satisfaction with the Egyptian administration’s notice to the country’s heritage and arts.

Hassan Fathi, a prominent Egyptian architect (1900-1989), was identified for his distinctive architectural design and style, recognised as “the architecture of the very poor.” It stemmed from rural Nubian architecture, which is distinguished by the domes and use of mud bricks. Fathi started a village called New Qurna in Luxor Governorate to maintain the historic character of Egyptian architecture. It includes a substantial sq. for tahteeb to be performed.

In December, the 11th edition of the National Tahteeb Competition was held in Fathi’s village, with participation by seven national groups and 33 players. Society Minister Enas Abdel Dayem has called the competition in New Qurna the fulfillment of Fathi’s aspiration.

The festival’s president Ahmed Shafei advised Al-Observe that the event included a extensive assortment of exhibitions to highlight the techniques of the nationwide teams and senior players and promote the recreation in general.

Shafei said that Egyptians’ enthusiasm for the festival arrived as no shock, thinking of their well-liked interest in people new music. Even children who have never ever viewed tahteeb ahead of want to engage in when they hear the new music commence.

“Any nation in the planet can manage film festivals and car races, but tahteeb only exists in Egypt,” claimed Sayed, telling Al-Check that many travelers have a wish to attend events that are unique to Egypt and noting the Ministry of Tourism’s productive advertising of festive astronomical functions in Aswan.  

Two times a 12 months, thousands of holidaymakers are fascinated by the sunshine specifically placing the face of the statue of Ramses II in Aswan. This phenomenon, which occurs every single Feb. 22 and Oct. 22, may mark Ramses II’s birthday and the day he ascended to the throne or the 1st days of the harvest and planting seasons.

Moataz al-Sayed, previous head of the Common Vacationer Guides Syndicate, stated that Tahteeb Competition and other occasions that shed mild on life in sncient Egypt, these types of as the celebration of Pharaonic holiday seasons, are a precious addition to tourism.

He informed Al-Observe that Egyptian cultural heritage requirements this kind of events and pressured the want to encourage them internationally.