Oud Makers

TRANSCRIPT
Oud Makers

NARRATOR:
The oud is a six-stringed musical instrument. It has a long history, and appears in stone carvings that are more than 2,000 years old. It is an important part of Arabic music, but is also played in Persian, Greek, and Somali traditions. In Egypt, one family has been making ouds for almost a century. It began with the grandfather, who started the craft, and passed it on to his children.

SOUNDBITE - Khaled Azooz:
"I inherited the job from my father and grandfather. My grandfather was an oud maker and then my father and uncles followed suit. The profession is passed from one generation to another in our family."

NARRATOR:
Khaled Azooz made his first oud when he was just 15 years old. By the time he was 22, he had his own workshop. Now, like his father before him, he has chosen to teach his own children the craft.

SOUNDBITE - Khaled Azooz:
"My children have also learned the profession and they are supposed to continue after me. I am 50 years old now, so I have been in the business for 35 years. My children know this profession next to their education, so the Azooz family will keep the business for generations to come."

NARRATOR:
Oud-making takes patience and skill. Today, Khaled runs a factory that produces hundreds of ouds every month, sending them to 12 countries. The work is divided into different rooms, each for a special step of making the instrument. For the Azooz family, making ouds is more than a job. It is a tradition, a choice, and a connection that unites generations.