jordan pulse -

Jerash Festival Media

The stage on Column Street (Al-Musallabah) at the 38th Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts hosted performances featuring prominent local artists and groups.

The events, attended by a large crowd, included a captivating performance by artist Mohamed Khalil that delighted the audience. The Mafraq Group also presented entertaining shows, adding joy and excitement to the atmosphere.

The unique performance by the rababa player Sami Sobhi brought the audience back to the heritage of Jordanian folk music. Additionally, the Al-Aghwar Al-Shamaliyah Group added a distinctive touch to the festival with their blend of tradition.

**Aqaba Folk Arts Group:**
The Aqaba Folk Arts Group gave a standout performance on Al-Musallabah stage. Founded in 1969 and registered with the Ministry of Culture in 1992, the group focuses on coastal Aqaba heritage through simsimia music and various sea dances. They are the only group in Jordan that plays the marine simsimia due to their location on the Gulf of Aqaba coast. They have participated in numerous international, Arab, and local events, including festivals in France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt, as well as in the Jerash, Shabib, and Al-Fuhais festivals.

To preserve Aqaba's songs, the group has produced albums in 2019, 2020, and 2023. Their performances blend the sounds of Aqaba, the sea, and its waves with the streets and columns of Jerash.

**Italian Group:**
The Italian group played a selection of Italian pieces and innovative modern music, engaging the audience with their artistic style.

**Column Street:**
Column Street, one of the site's gems, connects all theaters through carefully laid stone tiles, flanked by towering columns adorned with capitals. At the 38th Jerash Festival, it has become a hotspot for festival-goers, featuring food stalls, crafts, and handmade goods. It hosts several stages, including Column Street 1 and 2, where light games, clowns, cartoon characters, storytellers, and solo instrumental performances are presented.

On Wednesday, the street witnessed activities such as clowns, storytelling, face painting, solo saxophone performances, and cartoon characters. Column Street also saw economic activity and promotion of Jordanian and traditional products, including copperware, soap, honey, and food.