Shahd Alhamdan

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — It’s strange how as you grow older, certain things bring back memories from the past. Dina Al-Saedi was visiting the Balad Festival in Jeddah when a group of boys were playing with clackers—a toy popular in the late 1960s and 1970s—made her smile.



“I remembered playing with this toy as soon as I heard the sound of the balls hitting each other. I remember my childhood when I used to play in the street with one,” said Al-Saedi, who is now in her 20s.



Clackers, also known in Saudi Arabia as Tuktuka (perhaps from the tuk-tuk sound that the balls make), are composed of two small balls made from plastic or steel and tied to strings; the balls bang against each other making a smacking noise as the person holding the string moves his or her finger up and down.



In the past, the noise would often irritate adults, especially since children would compete with each other in how long they could continue clapping the balls without stopping.



“Children used to play on the street and challenge each other to see who wins. People in Jeddah used to play Tuktuka at a time when life was simple and people had a tendency to entertain themselves in simple yet creative ways,” said Al-Saedi.



Though clackers are looked at unfavorably in most countries as the balls have a tendency to smash and are therefore considered risky to children’s eyes, clackers are available for sale at the Balad Festival.



Jawad Ameer Al-Asiri is selling the toy along with his brothers. “We are selling them for SR5. My father used to buy them for us from the Bab Makkah area when we were children. We used to play them all the time. This is our first day at the festival and they have been very popular. People of all ages are buying them,” he said.



Jawad’s brother joined in on the conversation. "We got the idea of selling the toy from the actual festival itself which is being held to allow people to come and see old things. Non-Saudis are buying them more than Saudis."



Yasen Al-Hubshi, a visitor to the festival, said: “I adore this toy. I have several at home. I often play and don’t put them down until my hands hurt. I think it’s wonderful to see that they are being sold at the festival."