STORY: Ancient Arab storytelling tradition shines amid hardship in Syria
SHOOTING TIME: March 26, 2024
DATELINE: March 27, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:53
LOCATION: Damascus
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Al-Nofara Cafe
2. various of Ahmed Al-Laham telling stories
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AHMAD AL-LAHAM, Hakawati in Damascus
4. various of Ahmed Al-Laham telling stories
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMAD AL-LAHAM, Hakawati in Damascus
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): SALEH AL-RABBAT, Owner of the Al-Nofara Cafe

STORYLINE:

Amid conflict and turmoil in Syria, many Syrians choose to seek solace in traditional forms of entertainment that remind them of better old days. One such form is Hakawati, or storyteller, whose popularity is on the rise as people want something to take their minds off of the seemingly never-ending crisis.

The Hakawati tradition dates back to a time without modern technology. Men would gather in coffee shops to listen to tales of love and war, which served not only as entertainment but a means of imparting wisdom and life lessons.

At the centuries-old Al-Nofara Cafe in the heart of the old city of Damascus, Hakawati Ahmed Al-Laham continues to captivate visitors with his traditional attire and timeless stories, offering a glimpse into the past.

During the holy month of Ramadan, Al-Laham arrives every day and makes his way to a high-situated vintage wooden chair.

The 65-year-old sees himself as a bridge between the past and present, using storytelling to convey virtues like honor and ethics to new generations.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AHMAD AL-LAHAM, Hakawati in Damascus
"I see myself as a window between the past and the present. I present the past to the present in the way that I want, so that the new generations understand the values of the past, such as honor, Arab virtues, and noble ethics that Arabs have been characterized by since ancient times."

During more than 15 years of storytelling, he has honed his craft, transforming his chair into a stage where he brings characters to life through voice and gesture.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMAD AL-LAHAM, Hakawati in Damascus
"The storyteller's chair is like a mini stage where the storyteller plays all the roles in the story. I raise or lower my voice according to the character I am playing in the story so that people interact with the character and feel that the story they are hearing has some elements of reality."

Saleh al-Rabbat, one of the owners of Al-Nofara Cafe, emphasized the essential role of Hakawati in the old cafe. 

He said that Hakawati has been a consistent presence in his family's business at Al-Nofara for over 100 years, entertaining customers with captivating stories without interruption.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Arabic): SALEH AL-RABBAT, Owner of Al-Nofara Cafe 
"Whenever a group of tourists comes, they ask for the storyteller and listen to him even if they don't understand, but they enjoy the storytelling and interact with him. Storyteller is a part of the old cafe and the performance of the storyteller has never stopped because it is our heritage."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Damascus.
(XHTV)