Eid el Solh: Celebrating Peace in Egypt's Oasis
Learn more about the Siwi people and how they celebrate tribal peace with the festival of reconciliation.
Explore the joyous festival of reconciliation
Eid el Solh, the festival of reconciliation, started hundreds of years ago and is celebrated during a three-day event in October.
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Step inside Egypt's largest oasis
Siwa is Egypt’s largest oasis located in the country’s westernmost corner 700 km from Cairo. The idyllic greenery of the endless palm groves and millions of olive tree that surprise the eyes after a long drive through the barren Western desert do not reveal the bloody history that warring tribes had for many years in this Eden like Oasis, before Eid el Solh.
View of plateaus and palm groves (2020-09-15) by NawayaNawaya
The Siwans and Sheikh Mohamed El Madani
Over 700 years ago, the warring tribes were the westerners and the easterners: the inhabitants of the oasis from Arabic backgrounds, and those who lived on Dakrour mountain from Amazigh heritage.
Touristic plate explaining Eid el Sulh (2016-10-18) by NawayaNawaya
In 1285 Hejri year, Sheikh Mohamed El Madani came from Libya, and wanted to visit his followers. Many of the Siwans who followed the Shazelya Sufism gathered under the Dakrour mountain. The Sheikh asked each of them to bring bread, and he broke the bread to pieces. Each of them ate from the food brought by his neighbour and hence can’t be at war with them, and peace was restored between the two factions.
Sunset over lake Siwa (2020-10-19) by NawayaNawaya
The Siwans decided to continue the Sheiks ritual and made it into a yearly gathering to remind themselves of their peaceful pact. The three day gathering in October coincides with the harvest season for the two main crops of the oasis: dates and olives. The gathering was also named Eid El Hassad (Harvest Feast), or Eid el Siyaha, ‘siyahett’.
Three days of food, singing and discussions
The resolution of conflicts is the main theme of the three-day event. No one leaves with large problems remaining unresolved. Everyone shares and celebrates the harvest and unity. Food is an essential part of the celebrations manifested through many rituals.
The festivities last for three days. Those who are able contribute: some bring a certain type of bread, called mjardaq, for eating with fattah; others donate rice and some give money. Religious chanting goes on while food is cooked. The food is distributed in this large open plain where everyone gathers.
Men distribute food at Eid el Sulh (2016-10-18) by NawayaNawaya
Preparing for the festival
The preparations for the feast begin a day before: volunteer cooks arrange everything for the next day, they make sure all the equipment and tools are ready: pots, firewood, cutlery. They slaughter animals and prepare the meat for cooking.
Sharing and enjoying the food
While food is being brought out - and it can take a long time carrying down dishes along a human chain- no one touches the food, until they are sure everyone is served. A call is made to announce its time to eat.
Families and neighbors gather around the food and share the afternoon together. Many women who attend enjoy meeting with their relatives.
Food stalls at Eid el Sulh (2016-10-18) by NawayaNawaya
Over time Eid became a sort of marketplace, with stalls catering to families needs over the three day camp out. Everyone wears their best outfits. Mothers buy toys for their children, as they do during the two main Muslim Eids.
Palm silouettes (2020-09-15) by NawayaNawaya
Special nights
In the evenings, a Sufi Hadra is held, followed by music. The zaggala (male musicians) sit in a circle and play music, and can continue for hours into the night.
Curator: Laura Tabet
Writer: Dalia Bassiouny
Research: Mariam Taher, Mohamed al Abd, Hashim Morsy
Photography: Hashim Morsy, Stakoza & Giulia
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