In the heart of Jordan, where ancient civilizations once ruled and modern tourism reshapes tradition, the keepers of culture - artisans, women, migrants, and indigenous voices - fight to preserve and protect their heritage from erasure, commercialization, and cultural drift.
Watch the trailer!
SYNOPSIS
Beneath Jordan’s legendary landscapes – from the rose-red city of Petra to the vast, silent sands of Wadi Rum – lies a story rarely told.
Jordan’s Culture Keepers journeys beyond tourist sites to reveal the real soul of the country: a resilient people carrying forward ancient traditions in a rapidly modernizing world.
Through artisans reviving endangered crafts, Palestinian refugees weaving new roots into Jordanian society, women preserving generational knowledge, and food traditions that serve as cultural DNA, this documentary uncovers how culture isn’t trapped in the past – it evolves, thrives, and resists erasure.
We retrace history through ancient ruins.
We taste resilience in hand-rolled dishes passed down for generations.
And we meet the guardians of memory – the culture keepers – who remind us that identity must be protected, not preserved in stone.
At a time when regional conflict, over-tourism, and globalization threaten to dilute or distort local narratives, this film becomes an urgent call to honor and uplift those who refuse to let their heritage fade.
STRUCTURE & THEMES
Jordan’s Culture Keepers is a layered cultural portrait told through the voices of everyday Jordanians who are actively preserving heritage in a fast-changing world. From the sandstone valleys of Wadi Rum to the sacred waters of the Jordan River, the film reveals a living culture that refuses to be lost.
The story unfolds in three thematic chapters:
1. Reclaiming Cultural Space
We begin in Petra, not through a tourist’s lens but through the story of Ahmad – whose family once lived in the carved caves among the ruins. His reflections open a wider conversation across the country, as we meet Jordanians navigating the tension between preservation and modern life, between memory and adaptation.
2. Preserving Heritage through Practice
In kitchens, workshops, and cultural centers, tradition is kept alive through doing. Women at Dar Ne’meh teach herbal medicine and sustainable cooking. In Amman, Ruba Althaher preserves Palestinian identity through embroidery and fashion. These are not static customs, but living practices passed down with care.
3. Culture in Place: Land, Faith, and Future
In Wadi Rum, Bedouin guide Yanal offers a window into a desert life shaped by nature, stars, and ancient healing. In Jordan’s north, spiritual pilgrims retrace the steps of prophets – while it’s local Jordanians who give this sacred ground meaning today.
Throughout the film, journalist and host Dayvee Sutton moves with curiosity and humility – not just interviewing, but sharing meals, learning rituals, and immersing herself in the rhythm of local life. The central question emerges: In a region shaped by displacement, globalization, and modern tourism – who gets to carry culture forward?
The answer is both powerful and personal.
Culture doesn’t survive by accident.
It is taught. Tasted. Protected. And passed on.
This film celebrates the people doing exactly that.
LOOKBOOK & BEHIND-THE-SCENES
THE DREAM TEAM
Written & Directed by
Dayvee Sutton
Produced by
Moya Johnson
Cinematography & Edit by
Randy Sleem
Second Camera & Stills by
Rashad Sleem
WHY THIS STORY
Director’s Statement
Culture doesn’t survive by accident. It’s carried, protected, and passed forward by people.
I first landed in Jordan on October 7, 2023, and it was during that first journey when I was struck not only by its legendary landscapes and ancient sites, but by the people. It’s the people – the artisans shaping stone as their ancestors did, the women kneading history into dough, the storytellers who still walk the same paths as their grandfathers – that create those magic moments of your life experiences.
Not long after, I returned with purpose to produce a film that would prove this wasn’t just another tourism story. It’s a lens that offers cultural immersion from the first scene. From concept to final script, this film has been shaped by my own editorial voice and storytelling style—blending journalistic inquiry with an immersive, human-centered perspective.
Jordan’s Culture Keepers was born out of a need to document more than ruins. More than the popular tourist attractions and epic movie locations. I wanted to capture the soul of a place through the voices of those who preserve it. Not just in museums, but in kitchens, artisan workshops, and desert Bedouin camps.
By spending time in kitchens, walking alongside guides, and listening without agenda, I found the story emerging – not through scripts, but through trust. In a time when so many stories are actively being erased, this film is a celebration of those who are aligned to share the stories of traditions, legacies, and history.
This is personal to me. As a Black American storyteller, I’ve long been drawn to narratives of resilience, identity, and cultural survival. Telling this story in Jordan became a way to honor that same spirit across continents.
I’m grateful to the people who opened their homes, kitchens, and stories to us. Every frame was crafted to reflect that spirit – intimate, dignified, and real. This film is for them, and for every traveler, viewer, or dreamer who believes that culture isn’t just history. It’s alive. And it’s worth protecting.
— Dayvee Sutton
Writer & Director, Jordan’s Culture Keepers
WHERE TO WATCH
COMING SOON…
INSPIRED LISTENING
Your musical companion to Jordan’s Culture Keepers
This playlist isn’t the film’s official soundtrack — it’s a curated collection of songs that capture the feeling of the story. Influenced by the textures of Jordan, the strength of its people, and the rhythm of cultural memory, these tracks were chosen to echo the documentary’s themes: resilience, heritage, and connection.
Press play and let the inspiration carry you.
Want to Explore Jordan for Yourself?
Jordan’s Culture Keepers introduces you to the heart of the country — but if you’re inspired to plan your own journey, check out Your Next Trip: Desert Wonders in Jordan episode and travel guide for tips, recommendations, and immersive experiences you can book.