Bin Askar بن عسكر passed away yesterday. Every single Dhofari knows who Bin Askar is, and every single expat as well who knows the old market area. A few decades ago (at least 40 years) a man named Abdulqawi Bin Askar started up a little shop in the old market area in Salalah to sell Dhofari 'necessities'. Slowly, the modern world came knocking at our door and brought with it electricity, television, trade, telephones, cars, etc .... but one thing remained the same; Bin Askar and his shop.
When you drive into the old market area at Al Husn, you'll notice a little shop on the right with pale green wooden doors and a bunch of old anchors out front. It hasn't changed for at least thirty years. One step into Bin Askar's shop takes you back in time. It smells like old Dhofar.
He sold anything and everything exclusively Dhofari. I used to visit his shop as a child. To me, he sold treasures. Lots of them. What are Dhofari necessities you may wonder? Well, traditional fabric for the wizar and for women's thobes and shawls. He sold our traditional indigo wraps that turn us purple in the monsoon. He sold shrouds and other funeral necessities. He sold white Hajj wraps for Mecca. He sold traditional old kohl. He sold frankincense, traditional old perfumes, leather, spices, trunks, locks, chains, rat traps (yes), lanterns, teapots, fishing equipment and tons of other treasures. He raised 16 children from the profits of his little shop. You can see him sitting happily in his shop in the photo above. He was content. In a rare interview a few years ago he said his mission was to "Keep traditional Dhofar alive". Indeed he has.
I tip my hat to you, Bin Askar. Your legacy will forever live on. Rest in peace.
Am very sad to hear that Bin Asker passed away :(
ReplyDeleteWhen I pass by Alhusn souq I use to look whether his store open or not. It is unique. He kept so many valuable things for the new generation to see, and served the people from his generation by offering them what they need. I hope that his son who use to be with him all the time, to continue keeping the store open.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون.. الله يرحمه
R.I.P ... A true celebrity.
ReplyDeleteNoor
الله يرحمك يا بن عسكر
ReplyDeleteرحمه الله عليك يا بن عسكر
ReplyDeleteIf we had coach tours of Salalah and dropped them off in the souq his was the 'talking point' to get the tourists off the bus! The anchors were a draw. I had always thought how long he had been there - now I know:)
ReplyDeleteVery sad to hear hes died.
R.I.P ... his shop was one of my favourites as a child. He also sold the packets of candied sugar cubes that Dhofaris loved.
ReplyDeletei dont know him @.@
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of Bin Asker or his shop before reading this (despite being in Salalah 2 years). Wish I'd had the chance to meet him and hope I'll still have the chance to see his shop. Rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteRIP Bin Askar.
ReplyDeleteMay your grave be wide and full of sweet smell of frankincense. Rest well Hajji.
RIP - truly a wonderful human. Don't forget he also sold all necessities for making incense perfumes!
ReplyDeleteFatma
Allah yerhamu. I'm glad you wrote something about it. Thanks
ReplyDeleteFahad
الله يرحمه ويسكنه فسيح جناته. كان انسان رائع بمعنى الكلمة
ReplyDeleteWe love his shop. He will be so missed. RIP Bin Askar and condolences to his son and family
ReplyDelete