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Nashwan Sadeq

Life on the Coast

This project documents aspects of daily life for people living along Yemen’s western coastline. It captures their housing, traditional dress, and the simplicity of daily routines, which reflect their adaptability to the coastal climate, economic conditions, and cultural identity.

The coast serves as Yemen’s window to the world. Yet, the lives of those who inhabit it remain largely undocumented. This project seeks to preserve the memory of this often-overlooked community and to highlight the richness and diversity of Yemeni identity, which is frequently reduced to narrow stereotypes.

Glossary of Terms:
  • Shabriyah: A traditional chair made of wood or metal and woven palm fronds or rope. It is used for sitting during the day and for sleeping at night.
  • Hindool: A soft cloth hammock tied underneath a slightly elevated bed. It holds a baby while the mother tends to household tasks, protecting the child from insects. The rocking is often done by another child in the family.
  • Mafi / Mowfa: A round, ground-level oven traditionally used for baking and cooking.
West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Zaid wakes up in his hanging cradle Hindool

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Zaid wakes up in his hanging cradle Hindool | © Nashwan Sadeq

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Anisa’s simple furnishings consist of a jambiya and a few utensils hanging on the walls © Nashwan Sadeq

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Ibtihal is preparing lunch using the mafi © Nashwan Sadeq

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Yasser with his two children, during a nap in one of his nests

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Yasser with his two children, during a nap in one of his nests | © Nashwan Sadeq

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Um Yazan is crafting a hay broom © Nashwan Sadeq

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Boys wearing Mawaz

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Boys wearing Mawaz | © Nashwan Sadeq

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Boys fetching drinking water from the well

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Boys fetching drinking water from the well | © Nashwan Sadeq

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Um Mazen bathes her child in a basin. The used water is later reused for bathroom needs or as drinking water for livestock.

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Um Mazen bathes her child in a basin. The used water is later reused for bathroom needs or as drinking water for livestock. | © Nashwan Sadeq

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Mahyoub routinely sweeps away sand from beside his house

West Coast – Yemen; Life on the Coast: Mahyoub routinely sweeps away sand from beside his house | © Nashwan Sadeq

Nashwan Sadeq is a Yemeni producer, director, and photographer based in Taiz. In 2017, he founded his media production company Alami and later taught directing and editing at Taiz University. His work explores social and humanitarian issues through film and photography. He has directed several acclaimed documentaries, including Carrom, which was screened at Karama Festival Yemen and won Best Documentary at Qissa International Film Festival, and Ghania, a film about a young woman who uses music to help displaced children cope with the impact of war, which won Best Screenplay at the Digital Gate Festival in Algeria. Nashwan has also collaborated with local and international organisations on media projects exploring Yemeni identity and daily life and shares his visual stories of Yemeni people and culture through his digital platforms.
 

Nashwan Sadeq

 

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