UAE | Heritage and Culture
Freej characters come to life at Liwa festival
For the first time life-size characters of the UAE animation sensation Freej will be appearing live at the fourth annual Liwa Date Festival on Tuesday [July 29], organisers said.
- Emirati women perform traditional weaving at Handicraft Industrial Centre's pavilion at the Date Festival in Liwa.
- Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: For the first time life-size characters of the UAE animation sensation Freej will be appearing live at the fourth annual Liwa Date Festival on Tuesday [July 29], organisers said.
Click here to see the 'Liwa Festival' in pictures
Click here to see the different types of dates produced in the UAE (pdf)
This year's annual Liwa Date Festival has attracted record breaking numbers. The exhibition showcases Bedouin culture and heritage with a variety of events and activities such as date auctions, a mass wedding, traditional handicrafts, and music and dance performances.
Freej, an animated show created and produced in the UAE by Mohammad Saeed Hareb, is the story of four elderly Emirati women living in an isolated neighbourhood surrounded by the growing city of Dubai.
The show's main characters; Umm Saeed, Umm Saloom, Umm Alawi and Umm Khammas, try to live a peaceful life in the midst of the commotion that surrounds them.
The characters tackle social and moral issues that face today's population in the UAE, in a simple and straightforward way.
The event will include a live performance by the Freej characters, as well as the chance to pose for pictures with them.
"The Western Region Municipality is delighted to lead the way with the first ever Freej character appearance in the Western Region. This show puts a smile on children's faces and also highlights important cultural values that are unique to the UAE," said Humaid Al Mansouri, general manager of the Western Region Municipality.
"The Municipality is determined to bring more unique acts like this to the region, especially to complement local event such as the Liwa Festival," he said.
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