The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken Book by Rehab Eldalil

Public Project

The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken Book

Copyright Rehab Eldalil 2024

Updated Apr 2023

Topics Books, Featured Film

"This book has been almost 10 years in the making. The project started out as my process to reconnect to my Bedouin ancestry then turned into an opportunity to connect, learn from and work with the community. Along the way my visual voice has unearthed. The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken is a dance, a conversation with the Sinai Bedouin community as we explore what it means to belong, what is this indescribable connection to the land that we all long for and the indigenous experience that is filled with both sorrow and celebration. This book is an alternative Bedouin archive woven by the community themselves, it is an experience that invites readers to look inwards as much as outwards to question the notion of belonging."

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The book includes three different types of paper. The standard paper for visual and written content, textured paper for the embroidery to mimic the stitched feel and translucent paper for the plants. As the reader goes through the paper they’re able to play sound using QR codes, flip through the front and back of the embroidered photographs as if they’re touching the original pieces and hold the almost life-like plants while physically placing them onto the opposite page/ photograph. The featured poetry by Bedouin participant Seliman Abd Al Rahman are in his handwriting and on one of the pages the reader is able to hear him recite his poetry. The foreword is written by my dear mentor,Eric Gottesman who mentored me during my time at the Magnum Foundation and Afac’s Arab Documentary Photography Program. The afterword is written by Moussa Al Gebaly a Bedouin community member and project participant. The end leaf of the Swiss binded book is a drawing by Shereen and Mohamed Ghoniem, children from the community. At the back of the book there is text that gives context to the history of the community and my personal connection and back story. Names of all community members who participated in the book are also featured.

The book is 182 pages and contains 44 color images, 9 images with embroidery by community members and Native plants from the Sinai region foraged and described by tribe elders as plants that hold medicinal and traditional benefits for the community. The production of the book is supported by the Arab Fund for Art and Culture and it is co-published by FotoEvidence and Trobades & Premis Mediterranis Albert Camus

Publishers Copyright © 2022 FotoEvidence/ Trobades & Premis Mediterranis Albert Camus All rights reserved.
Photographs copyright © 2022 Rehab Eldalil
Personal Essay copyright © 2022 Rehab Eldalil
Photo Editor: Tanya Habjouqa
Foreword: Eric Gottesman
Community Statement: Moussa AlGebaly
Text Editor: David Stuart
Design: Bayan Dahdah
Cover Design: Fernanda Fajardo and João Linneu
Image Postproduction: Studio Fahrenheit
Translation: Khaled Ahmed
Handwritten Poetry: Seliman Abd AlRahman
Poetry Translation: Hamdi Baala
First edition ISBN: 978-2-494308-02-2

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Rehab Eldalil

Also by Rehab Eldalil —

Pregnant in Gaza with Nowhere to Go

From the Ashes, I Rose

Kendaka Power

Sinai Flora Field Guide

The Longing Of The Stranger Whose Path Has Been Broken

Press

Healing Confrontations

Women Of The South

Roots Guide

Traces Of What Remains