São Paulo – People who practice sports were part of the public who attended on Thursday night (5th) the opening of the Saudi Culture Days, festival organized by the Saudi government at the Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo. Lured by the beats and singing of folk groups, runners, skaters and skateboarder visited the tent at the event area (Arena de Eventos), near the Afro-Brazilian Museum (Museu Afro-Brasileiro).
Curious, first the park-goers looked inside the tent, and then they were invited in. Young people wearing gym clothing mingled to men and women dressed in typical Saudi attire and to guests in suits and ties.
At the place, guests could taste different varieties of dates, traditional fruit from the Gulf region, coffee prepared in the region style – the infusion is prepared with green beans and is similar to a strong tea –, different sweets and even water from the Zamzam well, in Mecca.
According to Islamic belief, the water spouting from the desert quenched the thirst of Ismael, Abraham’s son o, and his mother, Hagar. The source is still active today and is considered miraculous. Those who visit Zamzam’s stand may take home amphora-shaped plastic bottles containing water from the well.
In other part, calligraphers Abas Bumejdad and Azhar Al-Sadiq show their craft, much appreciated in the Arab world. Al-Sadiq painted the names of the visitors in Arabic characters in a sheet of paper as a gift. Nearby, another member of the Saudi delegation printed the event’s t-shirt with the face of Brazilian football players such as Pelé, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaká and Neymar also as a gift.
Another very sought-after activity, especially by the female audience, was henna tattoos done by two Saudi young ladies. A large number of women who visited the tent left with decorated hands.
Visitors could also see other artisans doing their crafts, as potter Lila Almearaj, who is deaf, and make clay busts. There were also necklace, vase and weaving making, as well as paintings for children. It was possible to take pictures in typical attires, see the replica of a Bedouin tent and also admire pictures of the Arab country and paintings by Saudi artists.
Bridges
The deputy minister for International Cultural Relations of the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information, Abdulaziz Almulhem, the Saudi ambassador in Brazil, Hisham Alqahtani and the secretary of São Paulo State Government’s Office of Foreign Affairs, Rodrigo Tavares spoke at the opening ceremony.
“This event, God willing, will be an approaching factor between the Arab and Brazilian cultures,” said the ambassador. “And I hope this event happens again in Saudi Arabia with Brazilian Culture Days, so that the Saudi people may know Brazilian culture,” he added.
Almulhem, pointed out the strong diplomatic ties between Brazil and Saudi Arabia, but also stressed the importance of building “more bridges”, as in culture ties. He thanked the support the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce gave to the festival, and the organization’s president, Marcelo Sallum, was one of the people who received gifts from the organization.
Arab Chamber’s Foreign Trade vice president Rubens Hannun, and other directors of the organization, besides the dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors and Palestinian representative in Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben, congressman Protógenes Queiroz (PCdoB-SP), and journalist Luís Nasif, among other important public figures attended to the ceremony.
After the opening speech, a video on Saudi Arabia with testimonials by Brazilian people living there was shown. Afterwards music and dance groups performed, and a lot of people moved to the rhythm.
People who waited to the end could satiate the hunger in a dinner with typical dishes from the Arab nation.
The festival goes on until Monday (9th) and the admission is free. See schedule below.
Service
Saudi Culture Days
From June 5th to 9th
Exhibitions open from 10am to 8pm
Place: Arena de eventos (event area) at the Ibirapuera Park
Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral – São Paulo
Free admission
Presentation schedule:
Friday (June 6th)
3pm – Outdoor folk and musical presentations
5:30pm – Saudi film
7pm – Musical and folk presentation
Saturday (June 7th)
11am – Musical and folk presentation
3pm – Outdoor folk and musical presentations
5:30pm – Saudi film
7pm – Musical and folk presentation
Sunday (June 8th)
11am – Musical and folk presentation
3pm – Outdoor folk and musical presentations
5:30pm – Saudi film
7pm – Musical and folk presentation
Monday (June 9th)
11am – Musical and folk presentation
3pm – Outdoor folk and musical presentations
Younbouawi (typical dance) presentation
June 7th, at 2pm
Butantã Mall
Avenida Professor Francisco Morato, 2718, São Paulo
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
