Chapter 2.4: Reading and Culture—People and Careers

Over ages in every culture, there are jobs that used to exist and make sense in their time. With the advance in technology and way of life, demands change. Read these jobs from the past in Egypt. Can you name others in other Arab countries and in your culture?

1-Al-Qerdati (Monkey Trainer)

Long before the era of animal rights and conservation, Al-Qerdati was a street job that served as entertainment for passersby. Al-Qerdati roamed the streets of Egypt with his trained monkey gathering people around him to watch the monkey show. By the end of the show, members of the audience would throw money into a hat, often held by the monkey.

2-Al-Sakka (Water-Seller)

An archaic occupation that was needed for a period of civilization that lacked adequate access to clean water. Al-Sakka was a person responsible for transporting drinkable water from reservoirs or rivers to mosques, schools, homes and public drinking fountains.

3-Al-Tarabishi (Fez Maker)

It may exist in niche nooks of Egypt’s bazaars as a touristic gimmick, but the fashion behind it is certainly extinct. Egypt’s relationship with Al-Tarboush (the fez), a bucket-shaped red hat with a tassel, has existed since the rule of Muhammad Ali Pasha. It came into fashion, first, as a part of the traditional Turkish uniform, later becoming mainstream in Egypt. Al-Tarabishi was the designer and creator responsible for selling fezzes to Egyptians.

4-Mabeed Al-Nahas (Copper Bleacher)

Mabeed Al-Nahasi was relevant at a time when copper was considered a luxurious material to own. Al-Nahas (Copper) was second in terms of value after gold, to the point that families displayed it on mantles and through kitchen utensils. Al-Nahasi would wander wealthy neighborhoods, calling for housewives to bring any copper collection that needed cleaning from rust or stains.

5-Al-Hakawati (Storyteller)

Everyone loves a good story. Al-Hakawati, which stems from the word Hekayat (stories), was a person who narrated the entertaining epics and ballads from Egyptian folklore. More often than not, he could be found in public places, such as Al-Qahwa (cafe). The job required character, eloquence, and good story delivery, to evoke a wide array of emotions from the audience. Storytelling remains a universally appreciated skill in people, which could be found in more modern jobs like content creators, authors, journalists, and actors.

Source: Excerpt from Egyptian Streets (Copyrighted). Third party inserts are included on the basis of fair use as described in the Code of Best Practices for Fair Use in Open Education.

 هناك عدد كبير من الموظفين يشعرون بالرعب والخوف من أن تأخذ الآلات والروبوتات وظائفهم. والسبب هو كلمتين فقط: “الذكاء الاصطناعي”. في أكتوبر 2020، توقع المنتدى الاقتصادي العالمي أن الذكاء الاصطناعي سيأخذ نحو 85 مليون وظيفة من البشر. وفي تقرير نشرته منصة “إنسايدر” (Insider)، قال خبراء إنّ برنامج “شات جي بي تي” وتقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي الأخرى يمكن أن تهدد الكثير من الوظائف في مجالات التكنولوجيا والتمويل، والتصميم الغرافيكي والصحافة والإعلام. لكن بعض الخبراء يقولون إن هناك أمل، حيث من المتوقع أن تخلق هذه الموجة من تكنولوجيا “الذكاء الاصطناعي” نحو 97 مليون وظيفة جديدة، أي أكثر مما أخذته.

يقول خبراء الموارد البشرية إنّ الموظفين يحتاجون إلى التركيز و تطوير مهاراتهم والعمل جنبا إلى جنب مع التكنولوجيا ، وفق “بي بي سي“. وفي هذه المرحلة، فإن أفضل طريقة للتعامل مع القلق من الذكاء الاصطناعي هي تطوير مهاراتنا وقدراتنا، وتعلم كيفية استخدام الذكاء الاصطناعي، بحيث يصبح حليفاً وليس عدواً.

Source: Al Jazeera (Copyrighted).  Third party inserts are included on the basis of fair use as described in the Code of Best Practices for Fair Use in Open Education.