This year's Souk Okaz festival saw the extraordinary skills of five-year-old Safwan Bin Hamam Rajab, arguably the youngest key-maker in the world. Prince Sultan Bin Salman, the Minister for Tourism and Antiquities recently witnessed the boy's talent and has promised to register him in the Guinness Book of World Records for his skills. Working alongside his father in a key-making shop during the festival, Safwan hails from a family of key-makers. He learned the trade from his grandfather: Mohammed Rajab, the former sheikh of key-smiths in Taif, and his father Hamam Rajab. The latter only pursues key-making as a hobby as he is an employee of Saudi Telecom but told Saudi Gazette that his father used to take him to the shop to learn the secrets and historic art of key-making. “My father had heart surgery five years ago and he was getting old, so he passed on the responsibilities of the profession to me,” remarked Hamam Rajab. “I did the same with my son Safwan who used to ask me all the time to take him to the shop to learn. Initially, I didn't allow him to work with me as it was too early, but he was very insistent about learning everything regarding keys.” Safwan was first taught the use of the file and screwdriver, which Hamam calls the “most important tools of the key-smith.” He was then taught the actual art of key duplication, using both the ancient method of doing so as well as by new equipment. “He knows how to multiply keys by the old method, which is very difficult - especially for a child - but he has been persistent and perhaps this is hereditary as well!” added Hamam. Hamam himself is the youngest sheikh of key-smiths in the Kingdom, and made a name for himself when he made a key for one of the old doors of the Prophet's (pbuh) Mosque in Madina, exhibited at the Jenadria festival. The key was for an 125-year-old door, and required very skilled key-making. He told Saudi Gazette that he wished to participate in national and international festivals and exhibitions and show the world the various old locks and keys that have been historically used in Arabia. In the meantime, his son Safwan is considered the youngest participant of this year's Souk Okaz festival and told Saudi Gazette that he was very happy to have participated, especially because Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, singled him out during the opening ceremony and admired his work. He added that he also knows about the various types of locks used in different parts of the country and hopes to keep learning.
