Communist in Amman

November 26, 2006 at 3:43 am · Filed under Amman

So today we (Lina, Khalidah, a Moroccan blogger, and several students attending a conference with the UN) went to Jafra, the new “communist” cafe in Downtown Amman. Pretty cool place I must say, though I didn’t feel any communist vibes; I ran into a good amount of professors and students from my Fine Arts Faculty at JU. I actually really liked the crowd, which appears to be a quite eclectic mix of people from all walks of life, old and young.

Other than that, I personally do not enjoy the style that the cafe is decorated with (too typical) but it’s very clean with a very laid back environment, in such a way that it reminded me of Beirut. They’re apparently aficionados for sponsoring the arts as they had a lot of paintings on display, and I really love the location of the place, right across from Hashem El Balad (though it’s hard to find a parking spot). The only real setback of the place though is that it has really loud music.

So, will someone tell me more about the communist bit? I really want to know where that came from, if its true, and who really owns the place. I admittedly was lulled to visiting the place because of that, and so I looked for political signs, but the only thing I found slightly political is a map of the Arab world proudly displayed on the staircase. Otherwise, not even the very long and rambly “story of Jafra” hanging in the entrance gave any signs of politicization. If indeed it is a communist cafe, then kudos to Amman, we’re finally going somewhere (though I’m a hearty believer in open economies).

Enjoy my wonderfully blurry pictures of Jafra Cafe.




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  • http://www.muoffaq.qabbani.net MQabbani

    hey..

    WOW not Jafra , every day i pass next ot it , before it was Jabri with pub down it , so lately saw them work on it alot then i guess in 27 of Oct they open it , actuly each time i try to go there something prevent me , any way i heard alot about that palce and u really now encouraged me to find out what exactly there, about parking ooh you should ask , and the best place afetr 8.00 is Bassman St. , or in the first St. in Jabel Amman then u go down the stairs “up the Alasteklal bookshop” be next to it , most cafe’s in Downtown is 1 up to 1.5 Star , so this one come to break it… soon enough Info will be available …

    see ya
    nic pic by the way …

  • http://moeys.net Moey

    wow, nice location..
    Roba, could u post their address or phone number.. I’d really love to visit it!

  • http://outoftheblocks.blogspot.com/ Shy

    How is a cafe communist? Weird

    I know I’m going off the point here but thanks for posting late at night, I work nights so you give me something to read :D

  • Bashar

    Azon eno Jafr is meant to be cultural café more than a political one , the café stand on the fact that it’s quiet and civilized place down town were people can met and discuss life maters in a protected environment ( bdon shdeh) , however don’t get me wrong but lots of communist believe that they are the educated segment in Jordan and the only people who really care on what is going on- ( almost al of us were trapped in this believe when we were at the university and were wowed to engage with the cultural class that what gave the place its reputation , I been there several times I enjoy setting their alone on Friday morning but not because of the politics behind the name but due to spirit of it walls , Jafra for me represent Amman as dose Jabal Al Qal3a, 2amon , balat al raashed , those places are what I miss the most when im traveling and those places are were I go straight from the airport before seeing my family

  • http://www.khuboz.com Rami

    BTW, there is a music concert for “Museeqeyon La Tabaqeyon” on Wednesday at 7:00PM in Jafra.

  • http://www.spirithalloween.com/images/spirit/products/processed/00639989.detail.a.jpg A girl

    Advice for girls, do not go down-town alone it is a scary place out there :-S

  • L@!L@

    Hey ruba :-)

    I can help you in the commie’s bit ….. hmmm the owner of the coffeeshop is leftist. (i have no clue if he is still in the communist party or not though).

    when he first introduced the cafe at the opening, he highlighted that Jafara is a cultural spot, a place that goes byond the many profitable cafes in amman, being in the heart of amman, Jafara reflects the real concerens of the real jordanians in wast el balad and provides a place for communists, leftists, activitists in amman, to chat, gather and spend an affordable quality time (in the crazy expensive amman)

    Jafara notion and location is very convenient for leftists, since majority are “kade7yeen” and use public transportation that passes through el balad. so since they are usually around the place , it makes it easier for them to go there and hence the place holds the leftist spot tag.

    btw, a library will be built on the other side of the cafe, also the net will be there, soon.

    Rami, thank for the information. i’ll be there for sure.

  • http://bakkouz.net bakkouz

    I second Shy’s question, how is the Cafe Communist exactly?

  • http://ad-noctum.blogspot.com electro

    mmm didn’t c the place yet but i think its very “unoriginal”! i hate Argeeleh also..

    Life’s Good:D

  • http://iheartamman.blogspot.com Firas

    So where did the whole “Communist thing came from”?I really want to know where that came from?

    I think the truth has to come out some day!
    Well, it’s just me spreading rumors and shooting accusations at people , maybe because I’m a part owner of Balat el Shuhada and a bit concerned, or maybe I’m trying to be Jordan’s #1 source of fake news?
    Could it be that the owner Aziz AL-Mshayekh wanted to attach some label to his place and invited lots of commies to the opening event?

    If I’m going to open a place of some sort I’ll attach certain label to it,you know start rumors that it’s a coffee shop for Ekhwan, and pack as many ikhwanjeyeh as possible for the opening , I mean any publicity is good publicity, that’s how capitalism works.

    PS: Did you test their internet connection :D?

    BS2: I was being sarcastic……again, please don’t take my word for real. So why I’m saying it’s communist? Well this is the word on the street,the name, the people going there, the artists who performed,showcased, …lol it’s no different than any other coffee shop in town,you know “give us your money and look cool/sophisticated/Shmeisani kiddo/[ ] fill in the blank

  • L@!L@

    Roba :S

    I am sure , i am 100% positive that i wrote u a long reply explaining why its considered a leftist-commie cafe..

    i have no clue where it went, maybe needs your approval to get published

  • http://mowatin.blogspot.com Issam

    Well, communists are normal people as you and me. They don’t have a third eye or missed ear. As one commented, most of them are “kad7een”, so they found this place -Jafra- a good place to meet in, exactly as -Ammon Cafe- which is also well known as a place where many leftists meet in.
    Leftists in general, has normal interests as everybody else, but may be you find them more political and work for the majority, beside their own personal projects.
    Again, Jafra doesn’t need to have these direct signs to show you or the others the kind of people who attend it. There is something much important than the direct physical signs .. it is the “roo7 el makan be sokano”.

    Hope I explained enough :D

    By the way, If you would like to see direct signs .. just attend the JCP (Jordanian Communist Party) activities .. i’ll see you there :)

  • http://Darkfalafel.Blogspot.Com Falafel

    I dont know where the communist thing came from, and i dont think it has nothing to do with it. By the way, the manager is a woman. Great place. Its good to have a cultural cafe even if its politicaly charged, repular people with similar interests, without all that show-off that we suffer here.

  • http://andfaraway.net Roba

    MQabbani, it was Jabri..? Cool.. I don’t remember Jabri being there.. It’s a really cool place though..

    Moey, lol, I’m afraid I can’t cause I can’t describe where it is and I don’t know their number. It’s in front of Hashem il Balad.

    Shy, my pleasure :)

    Bashar, yeah, I agree about the Amman bit. But I do think that it is politically charged.

    Rami, thanks for the heads up, I think I’m going to try to make it tomorrow if I find someone who will go with me.

    A Girl, lol, I always go alone. I’m alright ain’t I? I promise you it’s not scary.

    L@!L@, thanks for the explanation, indeed very useful and quite logical. I’m sorry your comment didn’t show, I have first time commenter user moderation, but now your comments should be showing without any problem. I can’t wait till they open the library.

    Bakkouz, mish an eli 7akeit heik… I just said what I’ve been hearing..

    Electro, it’s not original in style, but it is in concept, so I like that.

    Firas, ya badi il rumors inta :P Bas cheers, you made me discover a new place that I really like.

    Issam, haha, I didn’t mean otherwise. It’s not about communists, its about a public café being politically charged, and I love that. Though I’m not a communist, I think I would love to attend one of the JCP activities, just to see how they are. Will you drop me an email whenever they organize a concert or something? Thank you.

    Falafel, woohoo, girl power! And of course its good. I’m so happy that its politically charged. What a fresh change from yalla netla3 nitfaraj 3al nas o inkhaleehom yetfaraju 3aleina.

  • amjad

    ليست الشيوعية بارتياد مقهى شيوعي مح احترامي الشديد لكل المقاهي الشيوعية وبقايا الشيوعيين
    عندما يكون هناك شيوعين يجب أن تكون هناك الثورة
    إني أقدس ماركس كأعظم الانبياء والمفكرين عبر التاريخ
    لكن الالتزام السياسيي بالشيوعية انتهى هذه حقيقة احترمها كما احترم التفسير الماركسي للتاريخ
    اتمنى لو اني ولدت رفيقا للينين أو جيفارا او ماو أو حتى كين ايل سونج صاحب الخطابات الملهمة لكني يبدو أني ولدت في زمن المقاهي الشيوعية فقط

  • http://www.muoffaq.qabbani.net MQabbani

    hey ..

    yeah it was exactly name Muoffaq Jabri, with yellow and red Sing , any way

    about Jafra , the owner of it used to go to Balat al Rasheed(downtown near Police Center) and Amoon (in Abdali firt truffic light by way to downtown up Salah LAdeen bakery) both cafe same owners that i know personally , so the owner of Jafar is a communist man, him with his Friend used to gather in Amoon and al Balat , but more in Amoon and as all say about them ,they Just talk nothing more than talk and ideas and they used to gather daily , so the owner build that place and take TWO years , as i got from ppl know the owner he had a lot of acquaintance that another reason push him to make the place odd, what he try to do: is to build a different kind of CAFE in down town , not like the most popular there “Al Balat(1924) and Amoon ” so look like the owner is looking for place for his friend , so it’s lead us YES its a place for communist to gather …

    Hope it’s clear things now, and I guess that going to meet the owner very soon : )

  • Ahmed

    Hello ,
    first of all i should say that your space online is so lovely and warm and (PhotoFull),,
    I was searching if there a website for Jafra cafe’ and the search lead me to your comment on Jafra ,, I wouyld like to say that communists are not freaks or stranger creaturs to be isolated or gathered in a single place,, they could mix with other (normal) people ,, i dont think you will find a sign on thier clothes ( I am a communist ,take care )
    i beleive you will find such a sign on thier minds , so you to talk to someone to know if he a communist or not. About Jafra, the best part that the music there is so different and cool i can’t listen to such music other place, specially the great lebanease songs fopr the figures like ( Ziad, Julia ,Marcel, Zaky Nasif ..) , maybe because i am lebanese i like the loud music there ,,
    otherewise , i agree with you about the decoration ,,
    finally , again, your space is so cool ,

  • http://hjhk taras

    hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

  • http://3rooba oraib

    hi
    iknow jafra , go to it in night

  • ruba

    hey roba
    we share the same name:)
    i’ve been reading your blog for a long time and i realy like how honest and down to earth you are!
    i also like the end of month photos ;)
    doe smy email appear publicly?

    back to ur question…
    i think because leftists are known for reading alot of books and being the most cultured people among youth!
    i don’t see anyting communist in it besara7a
    there’s seems ot be a spreading thing in our sociiety is monopolizing certain genre of msic of book to a political sect
    those who love ghassan kafanafi must be jabha
    those who listen to shaikh imam are certainly yassari
    silly if u ask me…esp when prices are risng and none of those alleged communists said or did anything…maybe they gathered from some mo3ajjanat celebration before wheat prices go up!!!!

  • ambitious girl

    Hi;
    I am fond Jafra and I think -as many think – that (Jafra alwattan).

    Regardless to what was written I think the owner of Jafra not responsible for whom enter the cafe his responsibility limit in present good services(e,g:drink,meal,..etc)to the visitor and to keep calm and peace in his cafe,and I also think that most of you make like who ask a person walking in a public street why are you walking here? in spite of the publicity to the street!!!!!!!!
    To me and as I see any point in jafra taught me how the person must try and try till he acheives his goal,and there’s many enemy for success

  • mooni

    jafra 27la cafa shofto b7yate cos jfra kol 2she mojod fe ; )

  • amani

    2na b7ke 2no ma she bosf jfra l2no ma fe she bn2sha o 2na bshofha 27la cafa bkol 2l3alm osa7b had 2l cafa byfham 3shan ft7 hek cafa obke la kol 2l3alm 2no yzor jfra o yshofha

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  • أكرم حبيب سابا

    هذا المقهى أسطوري يستقبل اليسار واليمين والطبقات الكادحة والبرجوازية.أبناء اليسار أكثر ثقافة من باقي الطبقات. ما المشكلة في ذلك.ارتبط اسم المقهى بقصة عشق قديم بطلها عام 1939 في عكا الشاعر الشعبي أحمد عزيز الحسن..جفرا ويا هاالربع توفي عام 1987 وتوفيت جفرا عام 2007 في لبنان.أما العاشق الثاني فهو الشاعر الفلسطيني عزالدين المناصرة من موالي الخليل عام 1946 عشق طالبة فلسطينية كانت تدرس في الجامعة اللبنانية استشهدت بعد غارة للطيران الاسرائيلي على بيروت.فبكاها بكاء مرا وكتب قصيدته جفرا أمي إن غابت أمي التي غناها مارسيل خليفة وخالد الهبر والتونسية اّمال المثلوثي.وهكذا تحولت إلى رمز لفلسطين وبعد قصيدة المناصرة أصبحت رمزا عربيا وعالميا للأن القصيدة ترجمت إالى لغات أجنبية عديدة.

  • خولة الكركي

    زرت مقهى جفرا مع صديقاتي أكثر من مرة وهو مقهى يتمتع بسلوكيات راقيةومهذبة.صاحبه عزيز المشايخ شخص محترم.وأهم ما فيه هو النشاط الثقافي الأدبي والموسيقيوقد نجح في جذب كافة الشرائح الاجتماعية كالطلبة من الجامعات الأردنية وأساتذة الجامعات والمدارس والعائلات المحترمة.وزاره كبار الشعراء والفنانين العرب وفي مقدمتهم : الشعراء عزالدين المناصرة وأدونيس والراحل محمود درويش.