Commons:Wiki Loves Africa 2017/photo essay/Palm Leaves Weaving

Palm leaves weaving by User:Radwa

Palm leaves weaving is one of the most ancient traditional industries made by hand in Egypt. It's a very rare occupation and mostly inherited from father to son, like most manual industries it is threatened by recession.

This industry mainly found in Egypt at the Western desert where millions of date palm trees are existing, such as: Dakhla Oasis, Fayoum, Nubia and Siwa.

Abdallah is an old man, lives in Siwa Oasis, he inherited the "wicker industry" from his father and his grandfather before him. He says that before weaving any product using dried date palm leaves, the leaves should go through specific process: First it should be flooded into water until it is soft and ready for reshaping, also the leaves can be dyed in colors like purple or dark green and be left in the sun to dry, after that leaves can be split, if needed, according to the product requirements to be able to begin with a braid and build up the structure later on. Abdallah does that using his hands and sometimes feet to preserve total control on the leaves and create strong structure.

Palm leaves can create many products like baskets, for different usage such as preserving fruits and dates, palm weaved hats, strong leaves could be used as mats, and furniture in simple country houses. Even beautiful plates can be found in fancy houses to take pride in heritage and preserve identity.

Some workers use simple tools like a tall needle with non-sharp edge and braids of robes made also out of date palm trees is used as long hands to carry baskets and other pieces.

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  Palm leaves and the sackcloth extracted from date palm trees are the two essentials for the wicker industry.
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  Removing the rough part that surrounds the shoot of the palm tree.
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  The sackcloth extracted from the palm tree is flooded into water until it is soft and ready for reshaping.
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  Taking the sackcloth out of water to prepare it for making ropes or like a hard thread.
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  Hitting the sackcloth to a hard body or structure to soften it.
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  The sackcloth is being reshaped to form a rope.
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  The sackcloth is being reshaped to form a rope.
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  The sackcloth is being reshaped to form a rope.
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  Abdallah is cutting out some palm leaves to start his process of weaving.
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  After Flooding the leaves in water same as the sackcloth, leaves can be split, if needed, according to the product requirements.
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  The weaving process begins with a braid then Abdallah builds up the structure later on.
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  Abdallah does this work using his hands and sometimes feet to preserve total control on the leaves and create strong structure.
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  Simple tools like a tall needle with a non-sharp edge is used sometimes to access among the braids.
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  The process of weaving leaves of palm trees.
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  Integrating the rope made of the sackcloth with the final palm leaves weaved piece.
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  The process of weaving the sackcloth to form a long hand for pieces and products to be able to carry them.
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  Ropes and leaves can be dyed in colors like purple or dark green and be left in the sun to dry, colors add some variety and beauty.