Feature: Classy shell-made products bring fame to Sudan's eastern tourist city

PORT SUDAN, Sudan, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Antiques industry, namely the products made of natural sea shells, constitutes a means to promote tourism in Port Sudan, the capital city of the Red Sea State in eastern Sudan, and a growing trade activity as well.

In winter, Port Sudan, some 870 km east of Sudan's capital Khartoum, attracts various visitors, attracted by its famous Red Sea Tourism and Shopping Festival, or looking for warmth and tranquility near the Red Sea to enjoy its warm and rainy winter.

For years, the antiques made of sea shells have developed into traditional products that bring fame to Port Sudan. The industry has even become an important economic and trade activity.

The visitors of the city are always keen to obtain such antiques as souvenirs, or gifts for family members and friends.

The people working in the antiques industry utilize the Red Sea shells and turn them into fascinating art works in different shapes and of various uses, such as tissue boxes, key chains, necklaces, and decorated coffee utensils.

"Our task begins with collecting the shells from the Red Sea coast, clean them, add some raw materials, such as cotton, adhesives and coatings, and then make antiques based on shapes inspired by the environment such as sea fish and birds ," said Euro August, a Sudanese visual artist of South African origin, told Xinhua.

"The shell-made antiques are one of the most famous cultural products in Port Sudan, whereas they are known as the Red Sea culture. The industry provides valuable gifts made from the treasures of the Red Sea," he noted.

"This traditional industry is rapidly growing and has become an important business activity and a market that provides job opportunities for thousands of young people who are now interested in learning the basics of this heritage profession," the artist said.

Meanwhile, Ya'qoub Mohamed Osman, a Sudanese citizen working in the industry, said the Red Sea provides raw materials for making antiques of different shapes and different uses.

"We make use of the shells which are hurled by the waves to the Red Sea shore to make antiques in different forms and for different purposes," he told Xinhua.

"We use shark backbones to make key chains, and we use a shellfish, locally known as Karkit, to make desserts and tissue boxes. We also use other sea shells to make vases, picture frames, and accessories for women," Osman added.

The Red Sea State is Sudan's most famous tourist resort, with distinguished tourism venues including the beach which is one of the purest in the world, in addition to sea islands and nature reserves.

Furthermore, the Red Sea resort enjoys a variety of marine life, coral reefs and tourism-related activities such as diving, underwater photography and fishing.

As Sudan's main sea port and eastern gate, the coastal city of Port Sudan, home to 579,942 people according to 2011 statistics, lies on the western coast of the Red Sea, about two meters above the sea level. Enditem