A book documenting popular games in Syrian Jazeera region

The book “Popular Games in the Syrian Jazeera” by researcher Ahmed Al-Hussein which has recently been issued by the Syrian General Book Authority documents the tangible and intangible folk heritage in the Syrian Jazeera, which a number of researchers from the people of the region were keen to preserve from disappearance and loss.

The 80-page  book included four chapters: “boys’ games”, “common games between boys and girls”, “women’s games” and “men’s games”, where the author documented the games of parents during the past one hundred years.

In his book, Al-Hussein adopted a scientific research method, in which he linked the roots of some games to the ancient civilizations in the region through a template of accurate and interesting descriptions of the details of each game, accompanied by pictures showing how to play and the tools that the grandparents used to play.

The book “Popular Games in the Syrian Jazeera” reflects the author’s efforts to preserve the popular heritage in the Syrian Jazeera through a series of books, articles and research published and documented in this field to convey to readers this folklore, which is distinguished by its antiquity and diversity. This book is important due to the fact that a large part of folklore has disappeared as a result of modernity and urbanization and the movement of the rural people to the city and the change of living patterns of the people of the countryside of the governorate.

Researcher Ahmed Al-Hussein holds a master’s degree in Arabic language and literature. He is interested in literary and heritage studies and folklore. He published research and studies in Syrian and Arab newspapers and magazines. He previously worked as director of culture and head of the Arab Writers Union branch in Hasakah. He won the State Encouragement Award in the field of literary studies in 2012.  Many of his books have been printed.

Inas Abdulkaree