Spinning and Weaving Crafts with Bedouin People in Oman
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British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 104 February 2020, Vol. 23 (2) Spinning and Weaving Crafts with Bedouin People in Oman Najlaa Al Saadi Assistant Professor Sultan Qaboos university Abstract This report is all about the role or importance of spinning crafts with Bedouin people in Oman. The popularity of spinning crafts has been increasing rapidly in recent years and this can be the future for the expansion of the textile industry. This industry is known as a leading sector in this country itself. The proper background has been discussed along with the lifestyle of Bedouin people in Oman. After that, fibers with Bedouins and Shepherds have been evaluated with raw materials like wool, cotton, goat’s, and camel's hair. Then, spinning has been determined along with the importance of spinning with these Bedouin people. After that, spinning procedures have been discussed as outcomes have been determined. Finally, a conclusion has been drawn with the necessity of spinning crafts within the Bedouin people of Oman. Keywords: Spinning, Bedouin, Oman 1. Introduction The craft of spinning is considered an essential method of creating innovative, unique yarns. This method has been enhancing rapidly in recent years and therefore, spinning crafts have been popular with Bedouin people in Oman. Oman is known as one of the leading countries for supporting craft industries. The Government has also given importance to this industry as it has helped in reflecting the social culture of Bedouin people in Oman itself. Natural sources like animal fibers, wools, goat’s hair, camel’s hair, and cotton have been utilized in this country. The importance of spinning craft within the Bedouin people has been evaluated in this report. 2. Aims Spinning crafts have been improving from time to time and the Bedouin people have used simple craft elements that have been utilized during ancient times also. The primary purpose or aim has been to determine the importance of spinning craft with the Bedouin people in Oman. 3. Background Bedouin people have been developing a textile craft named Sado craft in this country by using spinning crafts techniques. Apart from hand spinning, hand weaving has been considered as a crucial handcraft in Oman (Al Saadi, 2020). It has been found that since ancient times, wooden ground looms have been utilized by these Bedouin people. Due to this, many different products like rugs, tens, women’s bags have been designed. Even animals like camels, donkey’s accessories have been evaluated also. Cotton men’s fabric clothes have been produced also with the help of the pit loom or shepherds by the weavers. These clothes have been useful for various domestic purposes in countries like East Africa, India. Generally, these Bedouin people have used sheep wool, goat, and camel’s hair for spinning crafts. Some difficulties have been found during the development of weaving craft in this country due to the complex nature of woven pieces. The weather conditions in deserts become very hot in the summertime and various dangerous insects like moths exist. These adverse situations or conditions have prevented these Bedouin people from getting their needed or required craft materials. Omani clothes have confirmed their existence as the craft industry of this country has always looked to maintain the high quality of craft products. According to many historians and geographers, a house without a loom device is considered © 2020 British Journals ISSN 2048-1268 British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 105 February 2020, Vol. 23 (2) very hard to find. Many Omani people have been involved within this craft industry from a long time ago and further researches have established that weaving crafts have developed a long history of excellence in Oman. 4. Bedouin People in Oman Bedouin people have been living their lives roughly as this weaving handcraft has been a significant source of living in Oman. Many families have been economically secured due to this spinning crafts. It has been seen that during the 1970s, the overall lifestyle has been changed forcefully across this country. This craft has become a less valuable profession according to the related terms. Many people of this country have lost interest in traditional, hand-made rugs in current days. The zenith of Islamic art has played a massive role as Bedouins have gained greater import during the period of the Abbasid Dynasty (Al-Salimi, 2017). According to Islamic demands, human clothes have evaluated a better demand for textiles. The textile industry has grown rapidly under this Abbasid Dynasty and the Bedouins have been an integral part of this. These people have seen some relative prestige hinges in Oman along with the other places in the Middle East. Shifts have been transforming since 1970 in Oman but this textile industry has gained some respect for the Bedouins depending on the large society. These people have gained entry into the mainstream in the Middle East and they have extended their demands through their textile industry. It has been found that the weaving textile services have been played by Bedouins in Saudi Arabia but among all, women have played a prominent role. The overall knowledge of these women has been considered as people from other cultures or outside will be less capable of spinning crafts. The Bedouin people have suffered the impacts of this textile industry (Al-Saidy et al. 2017). The whole economy of this country has been influenced and hence, every Bedouin woman in this country has suffered most. Spinning crafts have been improved recently in many countries including Oman. Bedouin people have taken this as a profession for making it larger. The interest in these weaving or spinning craft products has been reduced for the time being as social development has been made in this country. Consumer demands have been changed from time to time and for that, this industry has also adopted those changes for further betterments. These Bedouin people have been full of unique talents or skills and therefore, a vital role has been played in these spinning crafts (Heidkamp, 2018). Tough life has been spent by both Bedouin and Shephard life but the impacts of this textile industry have hurt the Bedouin women mostly. 5. Fibers with Bedouins and Shepherds Resources are needed or required for extracting the required amount of spinning fiber. Natural resources have been taken into consideration in Oman from the existing animals or vegetables. Animal fibers have been utilized by the Bedouin and Shephard people from sheep, goats, and camels. Livestock breeding has been significant for the life of Bedouin and Shephard people’s life (Shaat, & Al-Habsi, 2016). Generally, these animals have been found in dry hills of the Omani environment along with the mountains. Thus, this has assisted in Omani weavers during spinning crafts (Ramdan et al. 2019). Raw materials have been utilized by the weavers for delivering or providing basic needs like tents, rugs, covers along with some animal accessories. 5.1 Wool Wool has been known as a natural raw material that is easily available from the local sheep. Wool is nothing but an improved hair fiber with protein keratin. Extreme elasticity has been seen in this fiber and for that, a high percentage of moisture has been absorbed by this fiber along with the good insulating power. Sheep fibers have two types of coats for both internal and external parts (Mansour et al. 2020). Coarse and soft finer fibers have been utilized along with the usage of wool for making nomadic weavers. This fiber is very easy to get spun as different necessary qualities have made cling them together. This Omani wool has meshed into each other with the help of grease, crimp while 12-16 centimeters associated © 2020 British Journals ISSN 2048-1268 British Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 106 February 2020, Vol. 23 (2) staple has assisted in having an easier spin. Dar brown sheep have been found in this country but recent statistics have shown that many Omani sheep have been imported from different countries like India, Iran, Somalia, and the Middle East. More thick wool has been collected from the Indian origin sheep and because of the wild sheep of Oman, brown wool has been evaluated along with the white ones (Al- Khalasi & Mahgoub, 2018). Climate conditions of places have been an affecting factor for the variations in wool quality and thus, sheep under cold climate at high places have provided good quality of wool (Al- Mahrouqi & Victor, 2017). Finest hair has been found in the Shephard’s for living in the mountain while the Bedouin’s sheep have delivered rough hair due to the living in the Omani desert, the driest part of this country. 5.2 Goat’s Hair The hair of Omani goats has been used as a raw element by the Bedouin people for spinning crafts. These goats have as the staple length of 7-10 cm long hair. Natural colors have been black hair colors along with some grey color. The whole colors have been naturally polished and strong craft products have been produced using this kind of hair (Shahab, Qaseminejad & Shool, 2019). During previous times, this goat’s hair has been utilized but for now, it is rarely available due to its roughness and difficulties in the spin. 5.3 Camel Hair Camels have been considered an easily available animal in the southern and eastern areas in Oman. Hairy black colored camels have been living in the southern part of this country. A little amount of hair has been found from one-hump camels while hairs for spinning or weaving crafts have been taken from the shoulders and hump section (Al-Haidary et al.