Fatima Oukhlu
Fatima was born in Ait Hamza during the 1960’s. She was born into a poor family and never went to school because when she was younger only boys could attend school. Instead of school, Fatima learned how to weave and sold her weavings to notable people in her village and also sold rugs from time to time to cover the costs of food and clothing for her family. When she married, she furnished her new home entirely with rugs that she created by hand. Since the family she married into didn’t have a flock of sheep as many families did at the time, she continued to weave to help support her family. She joined Association Tithrite in order to generate more income from her work, and she has been at the association since it began.
Hanbels are detailed bohemian style handmade rugs. Thel carpets have a long history in Ait Hamza. Even before the arrival of Islam in the 9th century, Hanbals were gifts given only to wealthy, noble families in the area. The value of a Hanbal comes from their unique beauty and the incredible skill required to make one. It can take a woman over one month to complete an average sized Hanbal. Over time, the Hanbal evolved from a gift reserved for nobility, and became one of main ways families in Ait Hamza generated income for their basic needs. This tradition still continues today as many women depend on Hanbals as their sole source of income.
