Basket weaving in the southern Kefrayya all but disappeared

Al Mustaqbal newspaper published a new article on slowly disappearing traditional crafts, this time featuring what it described as “the interlacing a story of patience, creativity and love for basket weaving in the town of Kafraya, to the east of Saida. Matta Makhul remains one of five skilled craftsmen practicing basket weaving which was once widely spread across South Lebanon. However, none of his children have chosen to inherit this traditional industry after him. Makhul said that he learned the art from his father who had been taught by his father before him. “This craft does not require much initial capital, just skills, patience, good taste and experience, in addition to a pair of scissors and a knife,” he explains. He indicated that his handmade baskets have life duration of four years, adding that he makes a thousand of those baskets each year. He explained that he caters mostly to orchard owners, after carefully padding the bottom and sides of the baskets with pieces of sackcloth to protect the fruits. He lamented the incursion of foreign plastic and counterfeit goods which have sealed the fate of this once-flourishing domestic industry.

(Source: Al-Mustaqbal, April 5, 2015)