Palm leaf handicrafts in Hadramout [Archives:2009/1225/Reportage]
January 15 2009
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The Hadrami culture is very rich and includes various aspects that are linked to business and trade. Many of the trades and trade routes go back centuries and are still very much alive today. Using palm leaves to manufacture baskets and other objects is still popular in Hadramout despite the availability of metal and plastic utensils all around.
Al-Khus, or Al-Shataf (products from palm leaves), is considered one of the traditional handicrafts in Yemen, particularly in the regions where palm trees are available such as Wadi Hadramout. Thanks to the significance of this popular art, a lot of centers were established in order to maintain such handcrafts and protect them from man-made actions that affect nature. This is particularly given that human beings represent one of the leading causes of environmental devastation.
In the past, Al-Khus was a daily necessity, as women could meet most of their household needs from its products in its different forms. This handicraft is also called the \”date industry\”” since all tools used in this art are taken from palm trees that produce dates.
Arabs called this handicraft \””Khuwasah
