The Sinai Bedouina photographic journey
by Zoltan Matrahazi
Introduction
Although the Sinai is part of Egypt, it is a very distinct region. While the mainland is in Africa, the Sinai, separated by the Suez Canal, is in Asia. It is a barren and inhospitable - but very diverse and stunningly beautiful - desert wilderness that has been inhabited by nomadic Arab tribes, the Bedouin. Most of the Bedouin are from the Arabian Peninsula originally, arriving in several waves before and after the Arab conquest. Culturally the Bedouin are still closer to these roots than to Egypt - some tribes actually expand across borders - and refer to themselves as the Arabs.
Life has been simple and tough, with little possessions, living at the mercy of the elements. Relying mostly on their herds of sheep and goats to survive, the Bedouin used to move around seasonally to provide grazing for the animals. They also owned date palms in oases and used to hunt and fish. Important to survival in the desert, the camel is the symbol of Bedouin life and most families still own camels.
However, life is changing rapidly. Most of the Bedouin today are settled in or close to towns, live in stone houses, have cars, satellite TVs and mobile phones. A lot is being lost, but in a changing world you have to adapt. The desert cannot sustain their lives anymore as in the past. People's needs have changed, there are bills to pay, kids have to go to school - and there aren't enough rains anyway these days to provide grazing for all. There is now a new generation of educated Bedouin coming and - paradoxically - they are the ones who realize best the importance of their traditions. I believe it is possible to find a balance, you can have the best of both worlds. There are still quite a few families who live permanently or seasonally in the desert and mountains and I hope there will always be some - using new technologies though, but essentially living the traditional way. It is a simple and slow but very beautiful and rewarding life: close to earth,close to each other and close to god.
Following are glimpses of Bedouin life and their natural environment in forty images, followed by brief in formation for visitors to the Sinai.
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