Students learning a dance called Debke, which is popular in Middle Eastern countries like Palestine. Sarah Ali / The Daily Beacon
Arab Fest returns to UT to celebrate culture Neeley Moore
Copy Editor
UT students welcomed a celebration of Arab culture on campus on Friday and Saturday. Lina Shatara of the Arab American Club of Knoxville shared prior to the event that she was looking forward to presenting her culture to a growing audience. “(We’re) looking forward to introducing our Arabic heritage that is so rich with great culture and history to our community,” Shatara said. “Our festival is growing and multiplying every year, and we are thrilled. So much new excitement to add this year.” For four years, the event has unfolded right on Pedestrian walkway hosting both students
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and a crowd that visits campus exclusively for the event. Since the first year, the festival has experienced exponential growth. “This is our fourth year, and we are so happy for the growth we’ve had in the short 4 years,” Susan Dakak of the Arab American Club of Knoxville club said. “This year, we have a bazaar megatent, Cleopatra fashion show and Falafel Eating Contest on Friday. We have been looking forward to all the festivities, food, music and great fun.” Arab fest greeted its visitors with the scents of delicious middle-eastern food upon arrival. Dance performances were starting up spontaneously on a stage in the middle of the action. Later, planned performers would take the stage. Besides the performances, hummus was being blended fresh while onlookers observed. Liveliness at the event included a plethora of options to share Arab culture with the commu-
nity. Pillows were seated on rugs on the ground and people had the option to smoke colorful and decorated hookah pipes. A “bazaar megatent”, or traditional marketplace, was in place for the whole of the event to sell beautiful handmade items from dresses to jewelry to trinkets. Several artists wrote in customized Arabic writing according to requests. Guests enjoyed the many tables of baklava, richly spiced drinks and savory meals which were available to buy. A falafel eating contest, sponsored by Yassin’s Falafel House, took place on Friday afternoon. 15 participants were challenged to eat as many falafel patties as possible in three minutes. The staff of Yassin’s sold their signature eats for the full two days after the contest was over. Yassin Terou, owner of Yassin’s Falafel House, saw the event as a special way to share culture in ways students might previously not have
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known. “To be here is to show the other side of Arabs. The good kind, the kind the media doesn’t share,” Terou said. “We have our own culture, our own food, our special ways.” In particular, Terou mentioned that a negative media coverage can make students biased in different ways without knowing the culture at all. “It’s important (for students to experience the culture) for what’s going on,” Terou said. “A lot of students— they always see the TV, but they never met an Arab in their life. It’s important for them to meet us and maybe change their mind.” Terou believes that cultural events like the Arab Fest that feature food and fun are key to create cultural awareness. “Food will make everyone happy, and that’s a good thing,” Terou said. “When you make someone happy, you have a shortcut to the head and open their ideas for discussion.”
Monday, October 23, 2017