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Darah Releases Updated Guide on History of Saudi Arabia to Mark 94th National Day

Darah Releases Updated Guide on History of Saudi Arabia to Mark 94th National Day
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Darah Releases Updated Guide on History of Saudi Arabia to Mark 94th National Day

Darah Releases Updated Guide on History of Saudi Arabia to Mark 94th National Day

The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) released an updated version of its guide on the history of Saudi National Day. This is part of its ongoing efforts to provide a reliable and accurate reference for the history of Saudi Arabia and to highlight the Kingdom's significant development milestones.

The comprehensive guide provides details about the history of National Day and its associated achievements for those interested in Saudi affairs, both locally and globally. It can also be utilized to create various media and awareness materials for commemorating the 94th National Day of the Kingdom.

The guide includes a section about the Saudi national anthem, tracing its origins from King Abdulaziz's reign to its evolution into its current form.

It also includes a section dedicated to the kings of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, offering brief biographies of the rulers from the founding of the Saudi state up to the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The guide covers significant development projects during the state-building phase, including the reconstruction of the Riyadh wall, the construction of the Murabba Palace in Riyadh, the Qishla Palace in Hail, the King Abdulaziz Palace in Al-Muwayh governorate in Taif and the Riyadh-Dammam railway.

It also covers the opening of King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, the launch of the Um Al-Qura newspaper, and the expansions of the two holy mosques.

It offers a detailed chronology of the events leading to King Abdulaziz's unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, beginning with his recapture of Riyadh in 1902 and culminating in the declaration of the country's unification in 1932.

It also highlights the prominent treaties and agreements concluded by the Kingdom, along with examples of projects undertaken during his reign.

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Morocco's Women Rug Weavers Battle to Save Age-old Craft

Women in southern Morocco have kept on the tradition of weaving carpets despite its meagre earnings - AFP
Women in southern Morocco have kept on the tradition of weaving carpets despite its meagre earnings - AFP
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Morocco's Women Rug Weavers Battle to Save Age-old Craft

Women in southern Morocco have kept on the tradition of weaving carpets despite its meagre earnings - AFP
Women in southern Morocco have kept on the tradition of weaving carpets despite its meagre earnings - AFP

In southern Morocco, women are the guardians of the age-old craft of carpet weaving, an intricate art form that often leaves them with meagre earnings.

Women like Ijja Benchri, who creates carpets on a wooden weaving loom outside her small home in the village of Taznakht, follows traditions going back many generations.

"I started when I was 11 or 12, imitating the women I saw weaving," said Benchri, 60.

Known for their bold geometric patterns and vibrant colors, the handwoven rugs are a fixture in local markets and a favorite among tourists.

In 2022, traditional carpets accounted for nearly 22 percent of the kingdom's artisan exports, according to government data, AFP reported.

The mountain villages around Taznakht are famous for their Ait Ouaouzguite carpets, named after a native Amazigh tribe, one among a grouping of several communities indigenous to North Africa long referred to as Berbers.

The carpets are woven by the women on small traditional looms, either at home or in specialised workshops.

They are then categorized into various styles, depending on their region of origin and their designs.

Some of Morocco's finest rugs are crafted from high-quality sheep wool in Jbel Sirwa just south of the Atlas Mountains, and dyed using natural pigments from plants like henna, pomegranate peels, or indigo.

Though industrial dyes have replaced natural ones for most weavers because they are cheaper and can be produced more quickly.

"This tradition has been handed down for centuries, from mothers to daughters," said Safia Imnoutres, who leads a local women's weaving cooperative.

She was one of the women showcasing their creations at a recent festival in Taznakht dedicated to safeguarding the heritage.

- 'Comes from within' -

Creating a single carpet can take two to four weeks depending on its size, said Benchri, speaking in Tamazight, the community's language recognized as an official language alongside Arabic in Morocco.

"I choose the colors as I go, according to my feelings," she added.

Imnoutres also described the process as "instinctive", guided by emotion rather than a predetermined design.

"Weaving is an expression of the women's feelings, when they are joyful, when they are melancholic," she added. "It's an art that comes from within."

But beyond its artistic value, weaving is a vital source of income.

Every Thursday, many travel to a weekly market to sell their rugs, often to middlemen who set the prices.

On average, a large rug sells for just 250 Moroccan dirhams (around $24), with its final price later raking astronomical profits.

In cities like Marrakech, some 250 kilometres (160 miles) north of Taznakht, they are sold in bazaars for up to ten times the original price.

Other rugs are listed at up to $6,000 on online platforms.

"We earn very little," said Benchri. "The intermediaries decide the price, and we have no choice but to accept it because this is our livelihood."

These diminishing returns, she added, have contributed to making the craft less attractive for younger women and jeopardising the handcraft tradition.

Additionally, the influx of cheaper, machine-made rugs has deepened competition.

To address these challenges, a new exhibition space in Taznakht allows some weavers to sell their work directly to buyers, cutting out middlemen.

The center also tries to open new avenues for these women to sell their products independently through courses in digital marketing.

"If this heritage isn't made financially viable, we risk losing it," Imnoutres warned.