Abu Dhabi's Turathna initiative attracts wide Emirati interest

The initiative, which was launched under the umbrella of ADACH, is expected to highlight the authenticity of traditional crafts and its great value in the UAE.

Turathna - meaning our heritage - aims to develop Emirati cultural products and skills, in a bid to transfer the value and history associated with each type of craft to the citizens and residents of the United Arab Emirates.

ADACH had called for the identification and registration of old craft products in the UAE, as well as related photographs that are no less than 30 years old.

The first stop in the Turathna 'roadshow' was Al Ain.

During the first day the Turathna team received a moderate public response, mostly from local Emirati ladies interested in getting involved as craftswomen.

On the second day, the team received many telephone calls from people inquiring about details of the initiative.

Several people expressed interest in participating in Turathna but said they would not be able to take part in it due to its timing coinciding with the start of schools' examinations.

Some of the 'heritage items' registered during the second day of Turathna included pottery objects, palm fronds woven baskets, clothing, cooking utensils and old artifacts.

Among the participants was an Emirati lady who brought a virtual truckload of items, some of them going back to more than a hundred years.

Among her items was an album containing over 100 old coins -most of them from the region, although there were also a few international currencies- and an old handwritten Koran.

For the following two days, the team was stationed at Madinat Zayed, in the Western Region where they experienced the warm Bedouin generosity and way of life.

The team inspected heirlooms of baskets, garments, jewellery and unraveling large sections of tents and camel decorations.

Some of the families were aware of the great cultural and historic value of these items, as well as of the need to preserve them for future generations.

Abu Dhabi was the last stop of the 'roadshow', and the initiative had also attracted people from the emirates of Ajman, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.

Among the most interesting visitors of the show in Abu Dhabi was an elderly Emirati man who has his own mini-museum in Masafi.

In it, numerous old artifacts were in display, including a locally made large bucket-sized ice cream maker that was a major attraction, as well as several traditional cooking utensils and pots.

Although this person came with a loaded pickup truck, still there were many more products that he could not bring along with him.

ADACH had photographed over a hundred heritage items to catalogue them, as well as conducting interviews with the many Emirat women who participated.

People who missed the chance to participate in the one-week long event are encouraged to take part in the initiative and have their old heritage items, photographs or manuscripts registered.