Ibrahim abu Sitteh, 1950

Taken in 1950, this studio portrait shows Ibrahim abu Sitteh; the Sheikh of the Abu Sitteh Family, wearing the Hatta and Agal and an Abaya with a dagger on his waist and a gun strap.  Abu Sitteh Family originates from Be’r as-Sab’ and is part of the at-Tarabin Tribe. They identify as Bedouin Sheikhs; which refers to still Bedouins who live constantly in their lands, unlike other nomads. They distinguish their Bedouin identity by staying away from villages and cities; they are neither villagers nor city residents, but residents who do not move. The family sought refuge with Sheikh al-Jarmi in Hebron following a disturbance in Be’r as-Saba’ 150 years ago, during which, al-Auja was under the rule of a Jiftlek Prince, who was known for his cruelty against refugees, therefore, they sought refuge with Sheikh al-Jarmi. Al-Jarmi commanded troops of youths from his clan and exiled the Prince from al-Auja to Jiftlek, as they returned, they sang “we freed our land with crooked swords, oh Prince, your path is crooked, turn to al-Brobeta [which is a land at the end of al-Auja]”, thus the name al-Auja (crooked). After that, al-Jarmi divided the lands amongst its people and gave Abu Sitteh a piece of it.