August 15, 2021 –Socotra Online
Reporting: Ahmed Jamaan Photography: Ibrahim Youssef
The second exploring heritage caravan of camels in Socotra completed its tour including several areas across the Island, which was part of the Fifth Edition of Sheikh Zayed Festival supported by Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation.
The heritage caravan, which lasted for 5 days, contained of 30 men, 6 women and 30 camels. It started from Gwa Area and had a tour across valleys and villages of Nujed.
During the tour, the heritage caravan revived traditions and customs of Socotra, which used to depend on camels during moving and arranging needs of food. The heritage caravan stopped by several places and was largely welcomed by people, who expressed their happiness for organization of the caravan.
The participants organized several entertainment nights to introduce the Socotri heritage arts such as Socotri dances. These entertainment nights added a distinguished feature to the tour.
The tour arrived to the final station in Sheikh Zayed 1 City in Satorah, and participated in the loyalty to UAE march, which was organized by tribes of the governorate in addition to the collective wedding, and finals of the Poet of Socotra Competition.
In this regard, Socotra Online had an interview with Anbar Al Ameri, Head of events associated with the Fifth Edition of Sheikh Zayed Festival, who asserted that organization of this caravan was in line with concerning of Khalifa Foundation with revival of heritage activities, customs and traditions of Socotra.
Salem Saleh Al Hamed, Supervisor of the Caravan, mentioned that the caravan had returned all participants to the old days of Socotra and made them consider importance of camels, which was the only transport and moving mean in Socotra. He also highlighted that all participants were happy for participating in this caravan. He also commended role of Khalifa Foundation in organizing this tour for the second year.
Sheikh Ali Mubarak Hasenhi indicated that the caravan had a tour across several tourism and heritage places across Socotra, which would revive heritage of Socotra and maintain it from being forgotten. He added that the Island had a distinguishable heritage and customs, which would be part of pride of people of Socotra.
During welcoming the caravan upon arrival to Sheikh Zayed Festival in Sheikh Zayed 1 City in Satorah, Suliman Shalolah, Senior Sheikh of Socotra, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for the great support in different heritage activities to revive and maintain heritage of people of Socotra.
