The Majlis was crowded as many young adults heard the wonders of the stories told by the Hakawati (storyteller). He sat comfortably on his mat made from palm fronds, perfumed his beard and moustaches with musk, then cleared his throat and said: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah”.
Then said: “Once upon a time in Ramadan in the old traditional markets of Qatar, buying and selling were anything but silent and quiet, unlike the bustling activity we see today in modern shops. The market was a vibrant world of movement and sounds, and among the most prominent of these was the voice of the market caller (was called crier for he used his own voice).
The “crier” was an essential part of market life, his voice was a signal that goods had arrived or that sales had begun. He would stand in the market aisles or near shops, calling out the names of the goods to attract buyers. People would hear his call and come to see what was for sale.
With the arrival of Ramadan, the markets would become even more crowded, and the voices of the “criers” would rise louder than at any other time. Demand would increase for many foodstuffs that people relied on to prepare Iftar and Suhoor meals. The “crier” would announce the arrival of dates of all kinds, ghee, rice, flour, as well as spices and legumes used in preparing Ramadan dishes. In some markets, the caller would also advertise coffee, cardamom, sugar, and tea, essential items frequently used during gatherings and visits throughout the holy Ramadan.
Calling out was a simple yet effective way to advertise goods before the advent of modern advertising. The caller would raise his voice to inform people of the new arrivals, prompting shoppers to head to the stores to purchase what they needed before breaking their fast or to stock up for the rest of the month. In some markets, particularly auction markets, the caller's voice was used slightly differently. There, he would gather people around a particular item and begin announcing the price, then loudly repeat the offers made by buyers until the item gets finally settled at the highest price.
With the development of modern markets and the disappearance of many of these practices, the image of the caller remains in the popular memory, a symbol of a time when the market was alive with sound and calls, before prices were reduced to silent numbers on shelves or screens.
