Within the framework of the maritime festival in Azafra, amidst the noise of waves and sounds of old revelries, the expert of marine heritage Djuma ben Habdhuur ar-Rameiti stands in the historic corridors of 'Doma Nukhuda', as if he were a witness to the transmission from ancestors. He transports visitors into the world of the sea, which for many years has settled in the hearts of fishermen and revelers. He does not merely exhibit heritage, but is a living historian and custodian of marine remembrance, carrying it with him wherever he goes.
He tells the viewers the history of pearling and fishing for pearls, the lives of mariners who spent months amid the waves, casting out calls to the sea in search of bounties and livelihoods. In his memory, Djuma ben Habdhuur carries the history of pearl divers who roamed the waves of the Persian Gulf for long voyages that lasted from four to ten months. Upon returning home, pearl divers were healthy, which sparked joyful celebrations, where boats sounded in the squares and lanterns were lit. The return of pearl divers brings a joy reminiscent of soldiers returning from battle.
During the festival in Azafra, Djuma ben Habdhuur demonstrates only a part of the wealth of the sea, which he carries with him wherever he may go. At 23, he began to collect maps, old coins, postage stamps, maritime instruments, to create a traveling museum accompanying festivals and cultural events, preserving the legacy of ancestors from oblivion.
The Rameiti are not limited to simple representation, but propose an interactive experience that returns visitors to the sounds of the sea, the sunset of saline wood, and the history of pearl divers, which he narrates with love and pride. He says: "We do not exhibit collections; we tell history... the history of the people for whom the sea was life, the pearl was hope, and the reveler was the captain of the ship."
Through participation in the maritime festival in Azafra, Djuma ben Habdhuur ar-Rameiti strives to connect modern generations with their roots, to present them with the sacrifices of their predecessors who built the great UAE with their labor and endurance on the ocean waves. 'Doma Nukhuda' at the festival represents a part of the ship of the time, holding the unsung secrets of the sea and its pearl divers.
Djuma ben Habdhuur ar-Rameiti: "We do not exhibit collections; we tell the history of the people for whom the sea was life, and the pearl – hope."
