7th
An historic gathering of the 7 tribes of Sinai is planned for 21st November 2010. There has not been such a meeting since 1986 and the Bedouin are excited at the prospect of being able to meet together under one symbolic tent and discuss the way they can co-operate and protect their traditions and culture.
At a preliminary meeting of 3 tribes at the Nawamis site, with more than 85 people and 3 important sheikhs on the 2nd December 2009, speakers expressed their delight at the prospect of being able to meet together at Nawamis, the geographical centre of all the tribes. Sheikh Ahmed of the Jebelia mountain tribe said ” I have dreamed of this all my life”.
In addition to being a geographical centre Nawamis is also an important place to all three religions. It lies on an ancient pilgrimage route to Mount Sinai at St Katherines, to Jerusalem and to Mecca.
The Nawamis Centre has been designed in accordance with Bedouin culture. The shadoof (a traditional device for raising water) will be constructed to hold up the large festival tent, and in the centre will be the fire. These symbols of life for the Bedouin, water, fire and the tent were quickly recognised and commented on by the speakers.
Our Makhad Trust group who had been building Sala’s small dam in the mountains mixed with Bedouin who had come many miles from the mountains and desert, sent by their friends, to hear the news about Nawamis and the 7-Tribe gathering.
Sheikh Sala of the Awlad Said tribe said “We appreciate this gathering which is making history. A very big thank you for making the meeting of the 7 tribes into a reality and a base for the tribes to meet in Sinai.”
The Makhad Trust is proud to be involved in such a significant cultural development.
