Chinese lantern imports ousting traditional Egyptian craft

Cairo: Since walking into the vocation of lantern-making more than 30 years ago, Ahmad Abdul Gafour has been attached to Ramadan.

"We had to work all year in my father's workshop in order to meet the high demand for the traditional tin and glass lanterns celebrating the month of Ram-adan," Abdul Gafour, 53, told Gulf News. "But gone are the days."

"Over recent years, Chinese lanterns, made of plastics and powered by batteries have invaded Egypt, upstaging the local lanterns," he explained.

Chinese-made lanterns, which play music, have attracted many people in this predominantly Muslim country of 80 million due to their attractive look and cheap prices.

Every Ramadan, Chinese manufacturers are keen to introduce into the Egyptian market lanterns of various shapes. The most popular lanterns this Ramadan are those shaped like tuk-tuks (three wheelers) and camels.