STORY: Egypt's coppersmiths struggle to save dying craftsmanship
DATELINE: Aug. 29, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:31
LOCATION: Cairo
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of coppersmith Abdel-Nabi Hindawi beating a copper sheet to make a vessel at his workshop in Cairo
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ABDEL-NABI HINDAWI, Coppersmith
3. various of copper works 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): HOSSAM AL-ASKARI, Owner of a copperware company5. various of copper works6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): HOSSAM AL-ASKARI, Owner of a copperware company

STORYLINE:

In one of the narrow alleys of the Al-Jamaliya neighborhood in Old Cairo, 65-year-old coppersmith Abdel-Nabi Hindawi was making a copper pot at his workshop amid an intense heat wave.

The Egyptian artisan, who has been in the business for about 40 years, is struggling to save both his shabby workshop and his endangered profession from extinction.

"Out of copper sheets, I can beautifully create cookware, pots, vases, bowls, mosque top minaret decorations, domes, home decoration, and other forms of art," said Hindawi as he pounded his hammer on a large bowl for candy makers.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ABDEL-NABI HINDAWI, Coppersmith
"Beaten copper work is one of the oldest crafts in Egypt. This profession began to become extinct because many of its craftsmen passed away."

According to him, the younger generations favor quick money and white-collar jobs over traditional skills and are unwilling to enter a trade with a declining market, making it difficult for his profession to survive.

In addition, high prices in the global copper market have slashed consumer demand and weighed on business prospects.

Hindawi said customers now prefer to buy items made of inexpensive materials such as plastic, aluminum, and fiberglass, a trend that has dramatically hurt coppersmiths' businesses.

Not far away from Hindawi's workshop, dozens of shops showcased copper antiques, decorations and souvenirs at the centuries-old Khan el-Khalili tourist market in Old Cairo.

Instead of crafting pots and kitchenware, Hossam al-Askari, a renowned Egyptian copper artisan in his fifties, introduced an innovative approach to the craft.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): HOSSAM AL-ASKARI, Owner of a copperware company
"My family has been in the copper industry for more than 70 years. The most important thing for us is preserving heritage and this profession."

Al-Askari makes ornaments, home decorations, engraved pots and vases, photo frames, and many other antiques, all in an artistic form. He said he mainly relied on tourist purchases.

Echoing Hindawi, al-Askari said that the craft is dying because of rising raw material costs and a shortage of skilled craftsmen.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): HOSSAM AL-ASKARI, Owner of a copperware company
"Currently, we use both traditional Arabic-Islamic style and modern styles on our products to develop our products and preserve the heritage."

"If the government does not take heed of these obstacles, coppersmithing will vanish within years," al-Askari warned, adding that he is ready to help keep the craft alive by teaching new generations at his company and workshops.

"The government has helped us by organizing many local and international fairs around the year to showcase and sell our products ... and I think it should start vocational education programs and schools for young people. This will definitely save the craft," al-Askari added.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Cairo.
(XHTV)