Egypt’s Fettewwa spoiled by British occupation

The world of Fatwana (folkloric leadership in Egypt) has a history full of heroism, street fighting, nobility, imprisonment, cruelty tours and conflicts among Fetowas. Each neighbourhood in Cairo had its own Fettewwa who had been seen to be the strongest, boldest, and most skilled in fighting. He was responsible for defending his neighbourhood against other Fetowas and any other danger. Bolaq had a Fetowa, Gamalia had one and so on. Each Fetiwa used to have advocates called “Mashadeed”. Fetiwas are also known as Abo Al Ahmed. The Fettewwa was not a jobless or homeless man who always seeks troubles as many believe. On the contrary, he was a hard working person and might have been a café or any other store owner at the same time undertaking the responsibility of maintaining security and stability to the neighborhood where he lives and defending it against any attack or danger.   National role of Fettewwa: Fettewwa had a prominent national role as they participated in confrontations and showdowns against the French campaign in Egypt when Mamluks let down the country and fled. They thus represented a continuous headache to Napoleon who called them “the Jobless Hashasheen” in reference to their joblessness and drug addiction. This role had an end on the hands of the British occupation to Egypt simultaneously with the 1919 Revolution as they were given huge amounts of money in addition to facilitation to escape legal punishment. Sometimes they were given another nationality with foreign privileges to escape any penalties, so they were able to cause chaos, damages, explosions and other violence without being detained or punished.      When Fettewwa Ruled Egypt: A common story about Fetowas is that of building a dome by one of the ministers of Egypt, which was occupied by Fettewwa who held regular meetings in which they used to take decisions that ruled Egypt during the reigns of weak rulers. The dome was named after them: the “Al Fedawia Dome” located in Cairo. This outstanding position taken by Fettewwa dominated the political landscape for long years as they applied protection over the weak rulers causing damage any time they want in addition to supporting corruption. These conditions didn’t change until Mohamed Ali ruled Egypt and gained control over them. Fettewwa occupied Al Hesenia: At King Farouk Squre, there was a local café whose guests included the elite and highly educated people in Cairo. The café was managed by an aged man called Ahmed Orabi (Fettewwa of Al Hesenia) who was always dressed in  gown (Galabya) and used to serve drinks to his guests. This man used to work in complete silence as he took orders in whispers and tell the coffee maker to make them ready in the same way. Orabi managed to maintain the title of Al Hesenia Fettewwa till 1952.    Customary Law in Al Madbah (slaughterhouse): There was just one man in Sayeda Zeinab Neighborhood who used to be dressed in modern clothes, a suit and a public Egyptian head cover called Tarboush, he won several contests in running and tug-of-war. This man was Ali Ek Hassany who was selected as a Fettewwa for Sayeda Zeinab without seeking the position. While he was sitting in a café in Syeda Zeinab, itwas attacked by some some Fettewwa from Al Madbah neighborhood. He resisted them and succeeded in compelling them to retreat to Al Madbah from 1914 to 1928. Shortly after, he suustained a good relationship with the Fettewwa he fought earlier and founded a football club with them.