Felucca Sailing Egypt Aswan 2.83

( History of ZAK family )

A History of the ZAK Family from Aswan Egypt

It all started four generations ago with a Nubian man from Elephantine Island, Aswan Egypt. His name was Aiady and he was the local ferry man for the island and of course the Nile was in his blood. Aiady built himself a little wood boat, it was a sail boat which in Egypt is known as a Felucca. He named the felucca Seagull Boat. In those days there where hardly any tourist in Egypt however this was of no matter because Aiady’s business was to take local people from village to village down the Nile or across the river to Aswan.

By where the ferry docked on Elephantine Island Aiady built himself a little room so he could be available 24 hours a day for any local island people who needed the ferry to travel along the Nile. Many years later when President Nasser built the High Dam which finally controlled the Nile, the little rooms site became big land as the level of the Nile River went down and under Egyptian law the new land exposed on Elephantine island became Aiady’s land.

In his life time Aiady had three wives and six children, three boys and three girls. The children from oldest to youngest where Abdel Fattah, Fikriyah and Waheba (twin girls), Hameda, Fikrie and Ahmed Nu Nu. As is the Nubian tradition when Aiady retired his eldest son Abdel Fattah took over from his Dad and became the local ferry man.

So now its the time for the third generation Abdel Fattah who was known to all as Gandoor. In his time as the ferry man tourism started to grow in Egypt and people from all over the world started to come to Aswan to see the Ancient wonders, the Nile and Nubian culture. Gandoor decided it was time to change his business from local ferryman to a tour boat for tourists. So Gandoor used the Seagull boat that was his fathers as building material for his new bigger felucca which he called the Nefertari. This felecca was named after the most beautiful Nubian Queen of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Tourists loved the idea of sailing down the Nile in a traditional sailboat, what a peaceful way to see the beautiful scenery and amazing sites. The business was a success!

Gandoor had a beautiful and very clever wife called Nema. They had six children, four boys and two girls. Their names from the eldest to youngest are Ghali, Mohamed (Abed), Nasser, Ahmed, Semera and Bishir (Haney). When the time came for Gandoor to retire Nubian tradition said that the oldest boy should solely take over the business. However Gandoor’s wife Nema had a brilliant idea, why don’t all the four brothers take over running the felucca tour business together. This meant that they could concentrate on growing a family business big, fast and strong as four bodies are better than one. Nema was very happy as she wanted to see her four sons work as one and have a strong family connection. Everyone in Aswan was shocked by this break from tradition but believe me her plan worked as the story of the second generation will tell.

In the beginning the eldest brother Abed was working on his own as the other brothers where at school or doing National Army services. Abed loved music and dancing especially reggae music which of course included Bob Marley. Abed built the families next felucca and decided it would be called Jamaica. Abed loved everything Rasta and even dread-locked his hair, the first person in Aswan to do so and believe me it caused quite a stir with the local people and tourists alike. People called Abed Captain Jamaica. The tourist loved to go on trips with Captain Jamaica as they where full of drumming , singing and dancing, fun to be had by all. People spread the word and the business continued to grow.

The second brother Nasser finished his three years of army service and at 23 came to join Abed as was Nema’s wish. Nasser helped with the tours but what was he was really interested in and good at was keeping the boats in ship shape condition so they where always fit to travel and looking their best. This is a very important part of the business as if there are no boats to sail then there is no business at all. At this time they built the third boat called the Kingston and business continued to grow. When the third brother Ahmed finished his army services he joined Abed and Nasser.

At this time a new type of traveler appeared in Egypt, the backpacker . Ahmed was handsome and funny and had a nack for talking to people, he was very popular with the backpackers. Ahmed understood that backpackers where more free with their travel plans and more available for longer trips. Sometimes a backpacker would spend up to a month with the family taking trips down to Luxor and back again. This was a very good opportunity to learn English and learn about western culture for the family. Word of mouth between backpackers spread the families good reputation far and wide and people began to call them the Jamaica Family. Ahmed built their fourth boat and called it Sailaway.

Finally the fourth and last brother Haney was finished with his army service and free to join the business full time. Ahmed and Haney where very busy fulecca captains with many people crossing to the Elephantine Island to look for the Jamaica Family to organise their dream felucca journeys, the business was growing extremely fast. They where very busy and quickly built a fifth boat called the Steinlarger and a sixth called the Jamaica Family, finally they built a seventh called the Blue Mountain. Now the business was to large for just the brothers so there cousins came to join them as Captains and crew as as all the boats sailed down the Nile day and night. Haney was in charge of organising the cousins and making sure they where happy and thus making the trips the best possible f the travellors. Some of the cousins that helped so much to make the Jamica family great where Ayub, Khalid Ferrie, Abdul Disco, Teddybear, Mohamed Darah, Gilligan, Captain Kind, Eddie Murphy, Amier , Alli, JJ, Captain Smiley, Ecramie and Mohamud.

Haney like his Mum Nema believed that the Business should be for the whole family. He decided that all the children of the four brothers would be involved in the Jamacia Family business and he loves to share his experience and knowledge with them to help and inspire. We are now at the present and the new generation of the Jamica Family are in this moment – Ayman, Alli, Hamada, Mustafa and Humo. They continue with the family’s great felucca tradition but have added new and exciting aspects to the business. They have three motor boats which are great from day trips around Aswan. They also have the beautiful Nubian Dreams Cafe and Restaurant, holidays houses for rent in the Nubian village, and organise fabulous tours to other parts of Egypt. As this is now we can only imagine how this generation will grow and what history will say of them. We wish them well.

The End …… so far!