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On My Trip To Saudi Arabia, I Met Male Members Of The Qahtan Tribe – Flower Men
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On My Trip To Saudi Arabia, I Met Male Members Of The Qahtan Tribe – Flower Men

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In Saudi Arabia, in the Jizan and Asir southern provinces, along with the Yemeni border, I found the legendary “flower men”.

For centuries, the descendants of the ancient Tihama and Asir tribes loved to wear colorful garlands. Forget the Arabic keffiyeh, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair! The wreaths made of fresh flowers are not only beautiful to look at but they also are exquisitely scented.

And, of course, the first thing they did when they saw me was putting a garland on my head!

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Some imagine Saudi Arabia is a huge desert, but they are wrong: more than 2000 species of flora can be found in the Kingdom

The men come to the market to buy ready-made wreaths early in the morning before it gets too hot

The garlands and wreaths are made every morning in local markets like Sabya or Addair. Some men prefer to select their own herbs and flowers and prepare the garlands themselves for a more unique look. Herbs such as wild basil, fenugreek, and marigold flowers are the most popular.

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An old man wears traditional shoes made of palm leaves In the Mahalah flower men market

Twenty years ago, the tribes were leading totally isolated lives without electricity or concrete roads and were living according to the dictates of conservative tribal law. No women can be seen in those markets, it is a male business.

The ultimate chic for the old flower men is to match the colors of their wreath with their beard dyed with henna

Many say they look much younger and much more attractive like this.

The wreaths are sold for a handful of euros

The most elegant wreaths are made with a type of white jasmine that is so fragile, sellers have to keep it in iceboxes. A wreath like this one can be worn for two days.

The flowers are carefully chosen to create harmony with the tribeʹs traditional dress

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A few years ago, futas were woven in the Yemeni village of Bayt Al Faqih, but nowadays they are made in India.

The wreaths are worn not only for aesthetic purposes but also for health reasons

Herbal medicine is very popular in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is believed to cure headaches. You even can spot people putting wild basil directly into the nose when they feel ill. The kohl men put on their eyes has also medicinal effects.

Flower men can also be found on the other side of the Saudi border, in Yemen. The ongoing war between both countries has generated a lot of embarrassment in the community as people belong to the same tribe.

Flower men still like to live in the mountains

To live in the mountains is an old tradition that enables them to monitor the area from the highest points and also a good way to get fresh air in the summertime. Flower men grow coffee and khat, a stimulant drug, on terraces. People can chew khat only in this area of Saudi Arabia. An exception in a country where possession of drugs leads to the death penalty.

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Flower men in the Asir province used to live in this kind of houses until the ’80s

The houses are made of red stone and mud bricks. The watchtowers were used both for security and granaries.

Inside the abandoned old houses, you can notice the walls decorated with the same color scheme as the flower crowns

This art called Al-Qatt Al-Asiri was created by women and has recently been listed by UNESCO. The women also wear floral garlands, mostly at home, but taking pictures of them is strictly forbidden.

Many flower men still take care of old family houses or watchtowers, some of them over two hundred years old. Local people are keen to explain that their community has inhabited the region for more than 2000 years.

The wreaths and garlands are everyday accessories

Flower men tend to save their most elaborate natural headgear for Ramadan and weddings. Friends are often seen sporting the same look.

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Despite their love of flowers, the tribes are famous for their combat skills

For the longest time, they were reluctant to have their photos taken or to even meet foreigners. With the increasing pace of economic development within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however, things are changing quickly.

The flower men are keen to retain their tradition of floral decorations, as it is a peaceful way of setting them apart from the rest of the country. If some men give up the wreaths, many keep the long hair as a part of the local culture.

Some are so proud of their floral decorations that they share them on Instagram. It is also a good way of showing off their looks to the girls they love before the wedding. Even if society is still very conservative, social networks are allowing young men and women to have private contact with each other.

Children are proud to be seen wearing futas and flowers with their fathers

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Children also wear the traditional dagger called the jambiya, made from rhino horn for the wealthiest.

In a local market, this Saudi merchant holds a 100 000 US dollars antique jambiya with rhino horn handle that he keeps in a huge safe. People are not aware of the rhino poaching crisis.

It is a tradition to offer a wreath to visitors in Asir

Flower sellers still make these gifts to the rare tourists who reach this region, But soon, with the Saudi Vision 2030 project led by Mohammed ben Salmane that plans to bring millions of visitors to the Kingdom, this nice tradition will likely fade away.

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sweetangelce04 avatar
Christina Sersif
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's nice, but they treat women like property so until they catch up with feminism and just treating women like actual human beings I don't really have an opinion aside from it's nice

gio_5 avatar
Liz Valle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is there improvement in women's rights to be made? Yes. Has it improved a lot in the recent years? Absolutely, and they are still working on it. As a foreign woman that works there very often, I have never felt discriminated against. I have been in high profile meetings where my opinion was listened to and respected. I've gotten more gender discrimination from a German partner at my firm than my Saudi clients.

Load More Replies...
54f516fe5361a avatar
jevanderwerf avatar
captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This article is a great reminder that the world is a big place and other people live totally differently from you. In Canada a man would get laughed out of the joint for a floral headpiece but there it's a treasured symbol of their culture and masculinity. The world is truly a wonderful place.

jevanderwerf avatar
13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good god give me the brandname of your happy pills because they are doing a BANG UP job of letting you exclusively see the bright side.

Load More Replies...
unknownunknown_1 avatar
unknown unknown
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nobody should be able to comment on this post regarding the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia unless they have actually lived there for a long period of time . Thinking you know what goes on in a country because you saw all the crazies on the news , is purely ridiculous. All they see over there about America on the media is school shootings and cinema shootings everyday. Do you think that is a reflection of what all people in America are like?

francesca-eleonora_caplan avatar
Frannie Kaplan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of us or our relatives actually lived there so go be woke somewhere else. My heart breaks for the population in many countries. No one can deny the role in SA or Afghanistan

Load More Replies...
marloes-hermens avatar
The Dutches
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think we all agree that the position and treatment of women is horrible. But another issue: made of rhino. And they are not aware of (or don't care about) the rhino poaching crisis!?! What an ignorance.

elektrownia_marchwiowa avatar
Eva March
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

quite pretty, but in fact if tourist start coming there, they will be treated as monkeys in the circus and will "make bussiness" as all Africans in their "native" villages. poor all people satisfying western tourist needs

lafforgue avatar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

do not worry, tthose people won t be part of a circus! not in this area of the world!

Load More Replies...
jefbateman avatar
Jef Bateman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's true that people always think of Saudi Arabia as desert. My students always picture Iran as being desert, so I show them pictures of mountains, meadows and streams to show them that their vision is far from the truth. Still, when I hear "Saudi Arabia" I think of desert. Thanks for teaching me about something I didn't know.

lorenegaudin avatar
Lola DM
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, I highly doubt MBS's vision for tourism is centered around local cultures, especially not ones that are related to Yemeni tribes;

gio_5 avatar
Liz Valle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure how many of their tourism videos have been shown abroad, but they do focus on the regional cultures. Among others this tribe. About a month ago they were showing a lot of pictures of the regional diversity of Saudi on a loop video at the Riyadh airport

Load More Replies...
el_bali avatar
Mari
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are beautiful pictures, thanks for learning me something new. I like the flower and the man with kohl around his eyes.

mustafa_o_arslan avatar
Mustafa Arslan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugly and f****d up culture. They have loads of money but do not give a c**p other than gold toilets and s**t. They could solve hunger but rather invest the money to buy guns from USA and cover the cars with diamonds. No rights for women also. If you go ask a saudi woman she would say no no we have rights I am so powerful and I have my dignity. Saudi culture should go f**k itself.

francesca-eleonora_caplan avatar
Frannie Kaplan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very beautiful but sad that women are cut out of this business. They don't even appear in the photos. Those children didn't give birth to themselves.

atelierluchtenveld avatar
Atelier Luchtenveld
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"In a local market, this Saudi merchant holds a 100 000 US dollars antique jambiya with rhino horn handle that he keeps in a huge safe. People are not aware of the rhino poaching crisis." The demand for horns for these knives is the biggest drive behind the poaching. The value/market price is a very clear sign they are aware. The just don't care.

jevanderwerf avatar
13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You had me up untill "no women allowed."

tgeer123 avatar
Tjler
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

What the f**k man somebody needs to get this "man" a gift card to hollister so he can wear real clothes. This s**t is embarrassing to even look at for real

sweetangelce04 avatar
Christina Sersif
Community Member
5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's nice, but they treat women like property so until they catch up with feminism and just treating women like actual human beings I don't really have an opinion aside from it's nice

gio_5 avatar
Liz Valle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is there improvement in women's rights to be made? Yes. Has it improved a lot in the recent years? Absolutely, and they are still working on it. As a foreign woman that works there very often, I have never felt discriminated against. I have been in high profile meetings where my opinion was listened to and respected. I've gotten more gender discrimination from a German partner at my firm than my Saudi clients.

Load More Replies...
54f516fe5361a avatar
jevanderwerf avatar
captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This article is a great reminder that the world is a big place and other people live totally differently from you. In Canada a man would get laughed out of the joint for a floral headpiece but there it's a treasured symbol of their culture and masculinity. The world is truly a wonderful place.

jevanderwerf avatar
13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good god give me the brandname of your happy pills because they are doing a BANG UP job of letting you exclusively see the bright side.

Load More Replies...
unknownunknown_1 avatar
unknown unknown
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nobody should be able to comment on this post regarding the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia unless they have actually lived there for a long period of time . Thinking you know what goes on in a country because you saw all the crazies on the news , is purely ridiculous. All they see over there about America on the media is school shootings and cinema shootings everyday. Do you think that is a reflection of what all people in America are like?

francesca-eleonora_caplan avatar
Frannie Kaplan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of us or our relatives actually lived there so go be woke somewhere else. My heart breaks for the population in many countries. No one can deny the role in SA or Afghanistan

Load More Replies...
marloes-hermens avatar
The Dutches
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think we all agree that the position and treatment of women is horrible. But another issue: made of rhino. And they are not aware of (or don't care about) the rhino poaching crisis!?! What an ignorance.

elektrownia_marchwiowa avatar
Eva March
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

quite pretty, but in fact if tourist start coming there, they will be treated as monkeys in the circus and will "make bussiness" as all Africans in their "native" villages. poor all people satisfying western tourist needs

lafforgue avatar
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

do not worry, tthose people won t be part of a circus! not in this area of the world!

Load More Replies...
jefbateman avatar
Jef Bateman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's true that people always think of Saudi Arabia as desert. My students always picture Iran as being desert, so I show them pictures of mountains, meadows and streams to show them that their vision is far from the truth. Still, when I hear "Saudi Arabia" I think of desert. Thanks for teaching me about something I didn't know.

lorenegaudin avatar
Lola DM
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, I highly doubt MBS's vision for tourism is centered around local cultures, especially not ones that are related to Yemeni tribes;

gio_5 avatar
Liz Valle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure how many of their tourism videos have been shown abroad, but they do focus on the regional cultures. Among others this tribe. About a month ago they were showing a lot of pictures of the regional diversity of Saudi on a loop video at the Riyadh airport

Load More Replies...
el_bali avatar
Mari
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are beautiful pictures, thanks for learning me something new. I like the flower and the man with kohl around his eyes.

mustafa_o_arslan avatar
Mustafa Arslan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugly and f****d up culture. They have loads of money but do not give a c**p other than gold toilets and s**t. They could solve hunger but rather invest the money to buy guns from USA and cover the cars with diamonds. No rights for women also. If you go ask a saudi woman she would say no no we have rights I am so powerful and I have my dignity. Saudi culture should go f**k itself.

francesca-eleonora_caplan avatar
Frannie Kaplan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very beautiful but sad that women are cut out of this business. They don't even appear in the photos. Those children didn't give birth to themselves.

atelierluchtenveld avatar
Atelier Luchtenveld
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"In a local market, this Saudi merchant holds a 100 000 US dollars antique jambiya with rhino horn handle that he keeps in a huge safe. People are not aware of the rhino poaching crisis." The demand for horns for these knives is the biggest drive behind the poaching. The value/market price is a very clear sign they are aware. The just don't care.

jevanderwerf avatar
13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You had me up untill "no women allowed."

tgeer123 avatar
Tjler
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

What the f**k man somebody needs to get this "man" a gift card to hollister so he can wear real clothes. This s**t is embarrassing to even look at for real

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