Shahd Alhamdan
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Young participants in the third historic Jeddah festival, Kunna Kida (We were like this), said they take pride in what they are doing, and have enjoyed positive interaction and feedback from visitors.
Many young Saudis are acting in a variety of roles to portray life and society in the Hejazi culture.
The aim of the festival is to educate visitors and Jeddah residents about the city's past by giving them a chance to experience what it would have been like to live in in old, downtown Jeddah.
Yasser Bakour, a Saudi man in his late 40s, who acts as the mayor’s assistant, said: “When the mayor is not here, I replace him and do the work. When he is not available he sends me to weddings and see what people need.”
He added that the actors have all the needed information about their role as well as information about the history of Jeddah.
“This is a big district with its residents to show people, how we use to live and how was the old life,” he said.
Visitors are welcomed to a tour of old Jeddah by traditional songs performed by older and young participants.
Visitors also have a chance to see actors carrying out several jobs that are extinct today, or not carried out in the traditional way.
One example is of a man walking around Old Jeddah streets shouting if residents want to change the gas in their small cooking stoves.
Teenagers and children playing old Hejazi games such as, ‘Ceram’, also feature in the festival, and food vendors also wander the streets offering visitors traditional delicacies.
The actors and actresses that feature in the festival receive a small daily stipend for their roles, and said they believe that educating people about historic Jeddah is positive and vital.
Actors play out roles and events that involve their various characters.
For example, an ironer and a shoemaker have a small symbolic fight and approach the mayor to resolve their issue.
All those involved go to the Merkaz, the traditional location for resolving disputes, and after hearing all sides, the mayor offers his solution.
Vintage cars of different models are also part of the festival and can be found throughout historic Jeddah.
Tours are also available, either for free or a small fee, that include 32 or more important locations around the old district.
