Spinning fiber is a classic scene when you visit the desert or the mountains of Oman. That is because it is done by people who live close to nature because the fiber is animal or crop-based. Fiber is derived from sheep, goats and camel hair as it can be seen these animals thrive in the hilly areas, mountains and deserts.
The Muscat Festival and Khareef Festival of Dhofar are events that host the craftspeople. Oman Heritage Gallery located at Madinat Sultan Qaboos is one place that has been regularly promoting Omani crafts men and women. Here on occasions the craftspeople provide live demonstrations, where the public can see them closely.
In the desert, women are focused on spinning and weaving whereas up in the mountains it is a craft, men specialise in. Some of the weavers just use the hand-held spindles while others use the traditional ground looms.
Weaving was one of the oldest occupations practiced in Oman. It is a known fact that this was a thriving industry once upon a time and the products of the weavers were exported to East Africa, India and other countries of the Arabian Peninsula.
So what were these products? They were utilities. The products were practical and much in demand such as rugs, saddle bags, cushion covers, tents and camel strappings. The colours were natural and mainly red and black and white. Lines and stripes, horizontal and vertical are popular designs along with triangles and diamonds.
The loom industry of Oman is a cultural identity that needs to be preserved. It can be preserved naturally if there is a demand. The patterns are simple, created in an orderly fashion and create balance.
The Bedouin weavers are known for their wool spinning because of the regular flow of the raw material originating from their livestock. It seems for the shepherds on the mountains and the Bedouins of the desert it was a natural inclination toward this craft.
It has been found that the climatic conditions of the regions where the goats come from make a difference in the quality of the wool.
Najlaa al Saadi, Assistant Professor at Sultan Qaboos University, has stated in her article in British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (February 2020, Vol 23 (2)), “Climate conditions of places have been an affecting factor for the variations in wool quality, and the sheep under cold climate at high altitude places have provided good quality of wool.” Meanwhile, camels have been always found in abundance in the southern and eastern parts of Oman. According to the experts, the camel hair produces softer fiber so weavers of the desert mix it with hair of the goat from the desert. The shedding is done as the season changes.
Can this livelihood and traditional craft be replaced by machinery and the global market? Camels continue to be part of the society and desert camps are major attractions for the tourism industry. The Oman Camel Race Federation has launched numerous camel races bringing back the heritage in an impressive way as we are able to see in camel race season 2023 - 2024. But could the tourism industry alone sustain this traditional craft? It is important to note the products woven by Omani weavers were being exported during the ancient days.
Can they find new markets now? Ahmed al Mahrouqi is an adventurer who has his team of camels exploring the deserts. According to him, this is a way to preserve Oman’s heritage. And he purchases the traditional woven rugs and camel strappings from the weavers.
“What is important is that the weavers continue to practice the tradition and not employ others to weave. It is a tradition as long as it is preserved in its full identity,” pointed out Ahmed.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
