Mértola, a civilizing bridge

Interview with Hajj Jalid Nieto.
Founding Trustee of the Seville Mosque Foundation.

WHERE DOES THE STRENGTH AND UNIQUENESS OF THE FESTIVAL LIE?

Fundamentally, it is born as an ENCOUNTER between two potentialities.

On the one hand, a group of people, who had made a deep exercise of reflection and search in their own roots and history and wanted to make this longing bloom. (Archaeological field, Association for the defense of the patrimony, and the Municipal Chamber). On the other hand, the Islamic Community in Spain (Seville and Granada) had the need to openly express the constituent elements of their way of understanding the world, in identity, social, economic and cultural aspects. In addition to deepen their own community life.

So when we met in 2000, in Almonaster la Real, where we had tested an integrated action model, we only had to refine our positions.

The person who most stimulated the beginning of this activity in Mértola, was Shaykh AbdelHaqq Bewley, at that time in charge of the Granada zawiya of the Tariqa of Shaykh Abdelqadir as Sufi, rahimahulah. At that time I visited him assiduously, and every week he would ask me if I had finally established ties with the association that contacted us in Almonaster la Real. And he did not let up until he did.

The team of culture, of the Chamber, has always had a precious reference of what should happen within the enclosure of the Souk, whose mirror has been the classic aesthetics of Islamic markets and be faithful above other economic conditions to this aesthetic and ethical factor. And the Islamic Community was clear that our presence was not only to sell goods, but to convey a message connected with our way of life in the most natural and genuine way.

HAS THE FESTIVAL BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT?

It is an ESSENTIAL issue. The desire to show a living phenomenon, has been an objective in both organizations. And we have lived cultural bridges between Mértola and Morocco, and the traditional productive modes of both shores, which not only showed the technique but the man or woman who made it. This realism for us has consisted of living socially as we do every day. It is not about disguising ourselves from the past, but about being as we are and expressing it coherently through our activities and presence. Activities that have had three axes of expression:

• DHIKR AND SALAT
• CONFERENCES AND BOOKS
• MARKET AND CURRENCY

The incorporation of these elements within the dynamics of the event, has meant for us the expression of a living Islam, current, which is not disconnected from what could happen in the Islamic Mertola. All visitors who wanted to immerse themselves in the time-space exhibited at the Festival were able to perceive it. Past and present alive.

INTERNALLY, WHAT DOES THE FESTIVAL MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY?

When we started this journey, the Great Mosque of Granada had not yet been built, which meant that all the activity that later took place there needed a space. We had to put these forces in motion, and we had to visualize ourselves as a group in action. A Caravan allowed us to have multiple situations for mutual help and coexistence.

But we have been very clear that our participation in these events had an EDUCATIONAL dimension towards children and young people. They have been moments in which our children have perceived their group of belonging in a dynamic way. And they have felt gratified in their relationships with adults.

The market has enabled us to offer artisans and merchants a way to finance their participation and contribute to our organization’s expenses.

PLEASE DEFINE YOUR PARTICIPATION BETTER

This should be done on the basis of a Quranic binomial, SALAT AND ZAKAT, i.e. worship and remembrance and economic participation in social support.

Its active reflection has been, Adhan, public call to prayer through the public address system, and perform it in the market space itself. In the presence of visitors.

The dhikr, an act of remembrance, through the singing of spiritual poems, which, from being in open places and passing through, we have preferred to singularize it in an enclosed space, so that those who want to accompany us would do it consciously. For us this is a core activity that fills our journey with meaning. In this event we have traditionally offered a dinner to the attendees, which is a way of sharing and conversation.

The souk has allowed us to put into practice Islamic contracts, to sign commitments and to value the figure of the MUHTASEM, market judge, who has taken care of the correctness in the transactions. And of course the conferences, where we have expressed our understanding of belief, history, science and social relations.

HAS THE COMMUNITY BEEN OPEN-MINDED?

I think it is crucial. Since expressing Islamic society as an open and understanding society has always been one of our goals. And openness we have lived in two aspects, one towards Muslims themselves and the other in interaction with society and people.

We have opened the participation to all those Muslims who had no links with our organization. Especially in the market where groups of different origins, both geographically and in terms of affiliation to Islamic practice, have participated.

Towards society, we have always had a relationship of empathy and correctness, in the market or in interpersonal relationships.

In the opening ceremonies, an institutional act, with media coverage, our message has always been to present a possible Islam at this historic moment, respectful and in dialogue.

ARE CULTURE AND THE PLASTIC ARTS A VEHICLE FOR COMMUNICATION?

This is evident. In the souk we have exhibited, craftsmanship in ceramics, mosaics, calligraphy, textiles, leather, silk painting, traditional culinary arts….

But in the last two editions, we have contributed elements that have sought to make the Muslim artist present within the cultural discourse of the festival: The retrospective exhibition of Ben Yessef, and the presentation and exhibition of the book of poetry “La huella de la Palabra” written by myself and illustrated by Ben Yessef.

We believe that Islam is more than a religion, as a way of life it contains all the elements that give wealth and enjoyment to societies.

WHERE WOULD YOU ADVOCATE FOR NEW MEETINGS?

Knowing that the Chamber wants the festival not to be concentrated in four days, and to extend it in permanent spaces and activities, we hope to be present in this new challenge.

One of the actions we would like to promote is the invitation of a country from the Islamic Orb to participate in the festival as GUEST COUNTRY. Exhibiting their culture and traditional plastic arts in the event.

But to be more precise, the DHIRHAM coin of Mértola should be minted again and put to work in the market and could be used locally as a way to develop the economy and wealth. To have a coin with value in itself as a form of fair trade. I hope this will be a challenge for the future.

SALAM.

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Interview with Hajj Khalid Nieto.
Founding Trustee of the Seville Mosque Foundation.
Date of edition, November 24, 2022.