Aleppo the city of awesome handicrafts … reeds is one of them ..lets get to know more about it

There are cities in the world no matter how everything becomes modern around it with the passage of time, they like to keep the magic of the old alive, and the best way to do it is through historical handicrafts that are passed down from generation to another .

Today we have Craftsman Abdul Latif Youssoufou, who is going to take us more into the world of reed making art, where he strives to manufacture products that are used in homes and shops, and add aesthetics to the place , in which they are placed , all of this in his shop in the Meridian neighborhood in Aleppo city, where he has been doing this art for 15 years.

Youssoufou, 60, recounts to SANA News Agency reporter, that his love for traditional handicrafts made of reeds and bamboo prompted him to try and modernize this profession, through making new products such as chairs, beds, chandeliers, tables and plant stands, in addition to false ceilings and wall mirrors.

The craftsman Youssoufou , explained more about the stages of work that begin with peeling the green cane to obtain a distinctive wood color, and preparing it to manufacture the required product after the plan for making it has been drawn, then start the cutting stage, then collecting, tying and coordinating its angles, followed by the painting stage .

He added that his love for handicrafts is what nudged him to learn sculpting, drawing, and pressing copper, which contributed to the creation of more handicrafts, pointing out that he is working on implementing courses for young generations who are interested to learn this profession to preserve it from extinction.

Craftsman Malik Akam, who has been working in the bamboo industry for more than sixty years, explained that he worked during this period to develop and add to this art by introducing reed material to it , in a way making it a piece of art with a distinctive energy that draws attention to it , explaining that the stage of bamboo industry begins with the stage of fumigation followed by manufacturing , adding the pieces together , installing it and at the end making it as required.

While the craftsman Nael Youssoufou recounted that his love for handicrafts and heritage is what prompted him to learn the profession of reed making from his uncle Abdul Latif , but the real reason that brought him to learn it was to preserve it from extinction. In addition to that he works on marketing various products through participation in local exhibitions, and through social media, with the aim of introducing the community with the importance of this profession.

Moreover , the head of the Union of Craftsmen in Aleppo Muhammad Hossam Hallaq considered that this craft is one of the traditional handicrafts that children inherit from their parents and grandparents, but unfortunately it’s starting to disappear. He stressed that the union of craftsmen are doing their best to preserve this profession, through coordination with the Directorate of Tourism, the city council and some associations interested in heritage in order to hold permanent exhibitions, workshops and training courses for young generations wishing to learn and practice the profession.

Even a number of consumers brought light to the fact that reed products are more durable and more competitive than wooden products, and they add a traditional aesthetic touch to the place it fills.

Leen Al-Salman