In the old part of Cairo, 65-year-old Sobhie Younes is the third generation in his family engaged in traditional carpentry.
Despite facing challenges stemming from Egypt’s economic hardships, Younes manages to keep alive a workshop that has been in his family’s hands for decades.
He is aided by his loyal worker, El Osta Hasan, 74, who has worked as a carpenter for 60 years.
Beit Yakan is located in one of Cairo’s most renowned historic neighborhoods, Al-Darb Al-Ahmar, a district full of mosques, palaces, and mausoleums, with streets named after artisans who once worked there, such as Darb Saada, Al-Khayamiya (tentmakers), and Al-Meghrabelin.
The marketplace hosts many traditional crafts, but carpentry is one of the most famous. Though it once faced the threat of extinction, new projects now train younger generations in this traditional craft, Klix.ba writes.
Photo: Reuters
