The Legacy of Travel Writing

From bards’ tales detailing journeys into the unknown to ancient manuscripts and intricate maps of the world, the legacy of travel narrative in this region is magnificent — at least it was hundreds of years ago. Today, however, travel literature and travelogues written by local writers and native explorers are scarce in Egypt and the region, and the lack is exacerbated by disconnected literature markets, according to observers and industry experts.

Because of the nomadic origins of many of the tribes that roamed or settled in the area, from the Arabian Peninsula across North Africa in countries like Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, the culture of movement and the lore associated with it was once prominent. But stories have dwindled, and Egyptian and Arab travelers have ceased to tell tales — most of those who write about ‘us’ are authors from outside the region.

The problem does not lie in history. For instance, the 14th-century Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta is one of the most celebrated adventurers of medieval times. Accounts of his trips have been translated into numerous tongues and still change hands today among Arabs and foreigners.

During the golden age of Islam, mobility in search of knowledge was encouraged. Pilgrimage was one form of travel made “for the sake of the journey” — a tradition for followers of monotheistic faiths in the region. The hardships encountered, possible routes and personal stories were all documented, and the accounts can still be found today in libraries. The collective pool of experience from which those who wander can draw was deep.

In modern terms, travel narrative in our region was the “it” thing.

At a time when domestic and inbound tourism is suffering after a revolution that has changed the face of politics in this country, promoting Egypt through literature written by its own people both encourages tourists to visit, and creates a legacy for years to come. Festivals, hashtags on social networking websites like Twitter urging people to “#Come2Egypt,” and TV advertisements directed at sightseeing-lovers abroad may be effective but fleeting whereas a book inspires for centuries.

And right now, all across the world, the travel industry that includes offshoots like tourism, exploration and meditative and spiritual journeys is booming, as more people are able to travel. In some parts of the world, red tape is being cut and borders are opening, improving mobility and in turn creating a culture of travel.

But this travel culture is passing us by, largely due to a combination of factors unique to our region. Blame illiteracy and bureaucracy, blame a lack of resources, local writers and literature markets; the fact remains that our region and Egypt in particular has not come far since Ibn Battuta’s times in terms of exploration and journeys that conquer the small worlds within.

For many explorers and travelers here in Egypt, this is very much tied to the scarcity of literary travel accounts that merge experiences of past travelers and explorers.

“Say you’re an explorer in Egypt and you’re looking to discover a place. Wouldn’t you want to read about what has already been discovered so you build on that?” says Mahmoud Mohareb, an explorer and owner of a company that organizes deep-desert expeditions in Egypt.

Ancient traditions and tales have taught us that travels require a stimulant: something that clicks inside a person and makes him or her feel they want to travel. One of the main sources of inspiration for travelers has always been to read what others have done.

Experts in the field of publishing and travel writing note that such stimulants are lacking in the Middle East and the Arab Mediterranean cultures. A thorough overview of the travel literature available shows that the industry is and has been dominated by ‘foreign’ writers and publishers, from 19th-century Oxbridge-educated explorers to contemporary European and American travelers who publish and blog incessantly about our own countries, seen through their own lens.

Mark Linz, director of the American University in Cairo Press, says that in general, foreign travelers have been “criticized for having slanted ‘the Orient’ in the last 200 years.” Nevertheless, they still remain the leading authority on the region.

“Most of the [travel] books are by European and foreign travelers. Very few Arab travelers travel through Arab countries and write about it. Very few come with a book to publish in travel,” Linz says. “The best books written about the desert and camels are by a Dutch woman who lived for years in the desert among camels.”

He adds that Arab travelers seldom keep diaries of their trips.

“No Egyptians write about Egypt,” adds Sara Abu Bakr, owner of the small Cairo-based publisher Saray. “It’s scandalous [that we don’t write about our own country].”  – Read more here

– By Pakinam Amer and Amr El Beleidy