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The Aziz
Bookshop
It used to be the focal point for both tourists
and English speaking bookworms. Not only was
Aziz Bookshop in Tawahi a place to find books to
both entertain and inform but it also provided
stamps from all over the world and rare
photographs of old Aden, photos which the
founder of the bookshop took himself as early as
1946.
“It was established in a time when Aden was the
most important sea port in the world after New
York in America and Rotterdam in Holland. We
still have many valuable books today that date
back to 1937, although some are in a bad
condition.
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Some of the books are sold very cheap, just over a
dollar each and some postcards have photos of Aden in
the 1940s,” said Midhat Aziz son of the late Aziz Hakim,
founder of the bookshop.
Aziz Hakim came to Yemen in the early 40s from India and
quickly spotted a market for a bookshop to provide for
the many British, Africans, Indians and other nationals
who wanted to read in English.
Aziz worked at the shop since 1946. His great
grandfather had come to the Aden Protectorate from India
in its British heyday; he was very nostalgic about the
old days and kept a nice display of Aden colonial stamps
on the counter.
It was the first bookshop in Aden selling English
language books and today it is the only one. In recent
years, however, the number of visitors to the port of
Aden, whether for tourism or commercial business, has
reduced significantly and this has impacted on the
financial viability of the business.
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Aziz’s family used to update the shops stock by
trading second hand new books for older ones.
Sixty one years since its establishment, its
owners are seriously considering closing this
special shop and much beloved tourist
attraction. Aziz passed away two years ago, and
his sons are unable to pay the electricity
bills. “Nobody reads these days”, complained
Midhat, “the oldest book is “Port of Aden
1961-62” by a British writer and barely sells
for one US dollar”. The most expensive book on
offer is a glossy tourism publication priced at
$100 but has been on offer for over 3 years and
as yet has failed to attract a buyer.
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Today, the bookshop goes unnoticed by tourists because
it is not located at the port or near popular tourist
attractions. The family tried to open a branch near the
port entry where many sailors and people from all around
the world stop at Aden Free Zone but their request was
denied. Aziz used to hang photos of Queen Elizabeth on
the walls side by side with historic portraits of Aden,
the city and the port. Today all the photos of days gone
by are hidden behind dusty shelves stacked with equally
dusty books.
Abdulwahid Abdullah
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This page last updated
Saturday, 02 August 2008
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