JEDDAH: The tradition of storytelling in the Arab world has all but died out with the proliferation of television programs, but one man is keeping it alive at a local Ramadan festival in the city’s Historic District.

Ahmed Al-Sayad is entertaining young and old with stories popular in the Arab world including the romance of Antara and Abla, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, and 1,001 Stories of Shahrzad. Al-Sayad said that he has been doing this for the past 16 years during Ramadan.

The tradition was used in the past to entertain people in the Arab world and other parts of the world, particularly during Ramadan, when people called hakawatis would tell stories.

Storytellers used to perform every evening, keeping their audiences in suspense just like popular soap operas on television and movies in cinemas. These performances often took place in local courtyards or coffee shops, where people would meet to discuss life and politics.

Al-Sayad said he loves to tell stories and see the reaction of people. He believes that he will keep these ancient stories alive in the hearts of people, particularly the tales with humor and those providing moral lessons.

A regular at his sessions, Ahmed Al-Anzi, said: “Hakawatis help spread positive messages, and tells these stories so that they are not forgotten,” he said.