My father used to live in Khartoum, Sudan. He lived in Sudan until he came to America in 1995. The item I have chosen is called a Jabanah (Ja-ba-na). It is a small teapot that people used in the past to brew tea. My dad’s mom gave him the teapot. The Jabanah is decorated with colorful beads in a zigzag pattern. The bottom is sewed with gold thread. I chose this object because it helped me learn about this tradition of brewing tea that has been passed down many generations in my family. Then, they would sit on a cloth that they spread on the ground (like when you go on a picnic) and drink tea served in the Jabanah. Now people do not perform this tradition anymore. The Sudanese practiced this tradition for a long time, because to them the tea tasted better when they were served from a Jabanah. I was also told by my father brewing tea in a Jabanah continues to be popular because the Sudanese followed this custom to remember their ancestors and their way of life.Jabanah reminds my father of his country and the traditions he followed when he was there. Now we keep this object at home as a decorative piece. As I wrote this essay I took the opportunity to ask my father a lot of questions. In conclusion, I chose this item for quite a few reasons, but most importantly I feel proud to know Jabanah is from my father’s country, Sudan, and it is very much a part of my family’s culture.

– Sami Alamin

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant