Worldwide Loss of Traditional Knowledge and Culture
Back in 2002, when I first started visiting Egypt, I made the rounds to many traditional souqs (markets) including the Khan El Khalili (established during the Mamluk period – 14th to 15th century) and the Al Khyiamia (Tent Makers Bazaar) in Cairo. The stalls were filled with traditional, hand-made Egyptian goods, and you could really feel connected to the people and their culture. Only a dozen years later, by 2015, when I was working at the Grand Egyptian Museum, I noticed a huge difference.
Purchasing hand-made cook ware from a potter at the Qurna souq (2017)
Large American style malls were becoming common-place, and these air-conditioned monstrosities were filled with high-end European and American retail chains, that are beyond the wages of the majority of Egyptians.
The Khan El Khalili has become even more commercial and touristy and is now filled (mostly) with Chinese knockoffs. I didn’t travel all that distance to Egypt (from Canada) to buy a statue of Sekhmet made in China. If I wanted something made from China, I’d travel there and find some traditional work to invest in.
Hand-carved limestone replica of the Narmer Palette by master carver Mohamed Aegil (2017)
It is shocking how quickly cheap reproductions have taken over. I recommend reading this 2023 article by Maher and Farid about Chinese influence in Egypt.(1)
This isn’t the only instance! The Vancouver Olympics in 2010 is another example. I remember Inukshuks, tourist size totem poles, and other Canadian Olympic gear were made in China.(2) Instead of investing in Canada – our country invested in China! Why couldn’t that money have gone to Indigenous or other Canadian artists to create work – art that people would actually want to buy and treasure? I can’t imagine how disappointed people were when they received gifts from friends or family who visited Canada and brought them some memento, only to turn it over and find a Made in China sticker.
This cultural degradation is also true of the big-chain coffee shops from America that have infiltrated everywhere in Greece, at the detriment to the lovely and traditional Ellenikos Kafes and their own way of brewing coffee.(3) I missed terribly all those lovely, local shops and their amazing coffee when I last returned to Greece (in 2014).
This post isn’t written to slag China; China is just trying to build their economy, and is doing what America and other countries have done for a long time. What I’m getting at is that government trade agreements impact domestic culture and technology, not always in a positive way.
We (the collective ‘we’) have become so obsessed with buying ‘brand’ and being fashionable, that we are losing the knowledge and traditions that have been the fabric of a society, in the course of a generation.
My recommendation when you travel, is to seek out and support traditional craftspeople. The items (food, clothing, art, etc.) will be more meaningful, and you will be helping to maintain local culture.
[1] Maher, M. and Farid, M. (2023) The Growth of Chinese Influence in Egypt: Signs and Consequences. Washington Institute, published online Apr 27, 2023.
[2] CTV News (2008) Canadian Olympic gear made in China, MPs cry foul. Online May 2, 2008.
[3] “But traditional Greek coffee is no longer very fashionable, especially among youngsters.” according to Konstantina Dritsa Revealing the secrets of coffee culture in Greece.
