The Aziz Bookshop

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It used to be the focal point for both tourists and English speaking bookworms. Not only was Aziz Bookshop in Tawahi a place to find books to both entertain and inform but it also provided stamps from all over the world and rare photographs of old Aden, photos which the founder of the bookshop took himself as early as 1946. 

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“It was established in a time when Aden was the most important sea port in the world after New York in America and Rotterdam in Holland. We still have many valuable books today that date back to 1937, although some are in a bad condition. 

Some of the books are sold very cheap, just over a dollar each and some postcards have photos of Aden in the 1940s,” said Midhat Aziz son of the late Aziz Hakim, founder of the bookshop. 

Aziz Hakim came to Yemen in the early 40s from India and quickly spotted a market for a bookshop to provide for the many British, Africans, Indians and other nationals who wanted to read in English. Aziz worked at the shop since 1946. His great grandfather had come to the Aden Protectorate from India in its British heyday; he was very nostalgic about the old days and kept a nice display of Aden colonial stamps on the counter. It was the first bookshop in Aden selling English language books and today it is the only one. In recent years, however, the number of visitors to the port of Aden, whether for tourism or commercial business, has reduced significantly and this has impacted on the financial viability of the business.  

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Aziz’s family used to update the shops stock by trading second hand new books for older ones. Sixty one years since its establishment, its owners are seriously considering closing this special shop and much beloved tourist attraction. Aziz passed away two years ago, and his sons are unable to pay the electricity bills. “Nobody reads these days”, complained Midhat, “the oldest book is “Port of Aden 1961-62” by a British writer and barely sells for one US dollar”. The most expensive book on offer is a glossy tourism publication priced at $100 but has been on offer for over 3 years and as yet has failed to attract a buyer. 

Today, the bookshop goes unnoticed by tourists because it is not located at the port or near popular tourist attractions. The family tried to open a branch near the port entry where many sailors and people from all around the world stop at Aden Free Zone but their request was denied. Aziz used to hang photos of Queen Elizabeth on the walls side by side with historic portraits of Aden, the city and the port. Today all the photos of days gone by are hidden behind dusty shelves stacked with equally dusty books.