"Jadal for Knowledge and Culture Center In Amman, Jordan" by Achol Otto

In January, I had the opportunity to be introduced to Jadal for Knowledge and Culture which is a center in Amman, Jordan that’s located in Al-Kalha, one of the oldest staircases in Amman. It is a private non-profit initiative that was started because of the need of the youth for dialogue, exchange, art, thought, and innovation. Jadal is also a socio-cultural project that consists of a plethora of courses and holds concerts to showcase Jordanian culture.

On my first visit to the center in January, I saw an amazing concert performed by Nawar Alnaddaf who is a Syrian musician who plays the oud, an instrument predominantly found in the Middle East, Spain, Greece, and North and East Africa. The oud is a pear-shaped instrument that has either 11 or 13 strings. Nawar Alnaddaf’s incredible talent in playing the double-stringed instrument accompanied by her angelic voice inspired me to also learn how to play the oud.

Then in February, I had my second great experience at  Jadal for Knowledge and Culture center by beginning a 6-week dabkeh course. Dabkeh is a traditional Palestinian dance that can be categorized as a form of line and circle dancing. We’d come in at 7 pm every Sunday, lock hands, and learn the rhythm and intricate ways to tap and stomp our feet. In short, dabkeh ended up being the exercise I never knew I needed here in Amman, Jordan and I cannot wait for my next amazingly joyful experience here at the center.

Jadal for Knowledge and Culture center also has many other courses that it routinely hosts like making: bread, clay shapes, trees from metal wires, and many other uniquely creative skills that I never knew I’d wish to learn someday. So, I most definitely recommend checking out the center’s courses in your time spent in Amman as well as their musical evening nights.

Achol is a student at Mount Holyoke College and is studying abroad on the Amideast Area and Arabic Language Studies Program in Amman, Jordan.