Khazana School for Heritage. Photo by Amira El-Noshokaty
This February, on the rooftops of one of Madinet Nasr's district buildings, time stood still as people took a long stroll down memory lane. Celebrating their fourth birthday, Khazana School for Heritage held an exhibition showcasing all the items that we safely stashed away throughout the years, including items from the 1960s and 1990s.
“The day had for its theme the Egyptian notion of dakhl beit (Inside the house), which allows people to reexamine their personal belongings. Examining these items, the participants felt they were narrating the history of their nation. Old and outdated technological devices brought back memories of a bygone world,” explained Aliaa Nassar, founder of Khazana, to Ahram Online.
The mini museum of technology
At the entrance stood a table on which the outputs of Khazana’s intangible heritage products were arranged in a straight line. The rooftop was divided into three areas. The first included clothes from the 1970s and 1980s belonging to Nassar’s mother. The second showcased old photos showing her wearing them. The third, on the opposite side, featured a long table that exhibited the development of camera technology from film to Polaroid. Other items on the table that reflected the prevalent technology of the era included the classic keyboard, a computer magazine, an old printer, a portable video camera, old video games, cassette tapes, and CDs.
Board games, ping pong, and heritage food
Next to the traditional food buffet was a room where serious ping pong tournaments were once played. The green ping pong table was an old-time favourite. By its side stood another table dedicated to board games and the ancient Egyptian board game Senet. After the game, the audience was treated to a delicious banquet of traditional Egyptian food ranging from Koushary to rice pudding.
Story-telling and documentaries
The day ended on an enchanting note, as the penthouse room was dimmed and two documentaries on cinema accessory icon Abbas Saber and the heritage district of Roda and Manial were screened. The documentaries represent one of Khazana’s projects in documenting the entertainment history of Manial and the Roda district.
A vivid, joyous story by Professor Heba Safey Eldeen, cultural activist and professor of architecture, followed the screenings. After sharing her family album, she delved into stories of Ras El Bar, where she spent most of her summer time as a child. Ras El Bar was the summer hub in the 1960s and 1970s, with cottages that overlook a real natural marvel where the Nile meets the Mediterranean.
Short link: