Reference Places – TUNOCENT

Bou Saad

TUNOCENT Project — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 20:51:17 +0000

Bou Saad is an ancient Berber village in the South Tunisian governorate of Gafsa. According to an article the Tunisian newspaper aš-Šurūq published in 2016, Bou Saad used to be called is-Saket in previous times.

And, even nowadays, people in their fifties use this name instead of, or concomitant with its current toponym. Bou Saad is interbedded between Bou Omrane, which is located to its west and is-Sanad to its east. In the south, Bou Saad abuts to the villages of Bir Saad and Talah. However, the main road leading to the governorate’s capital Gafsa, divides the villages, with Bou Saad being north and Bir Saad as well as Talah being south of it. As its area encompasses a large part of the Arbata Mountains (Žbǟl ʕAṛbāṭa), it reaches as far as the village of Tafertast (Ṭāfirṭāst) in the north.

Historians estimate their presence back until 15,000 years BC. Caves preserved between Bou Saad and Tafertast suggest that Berber had already pre-existed on this territory. Historians estimate that their presence dates back to 15,000 years BC. Hence, the caves’ heritage is even older than the Capsian culture (between 7000 and 8000 years BC), for which the region of Gafsa is known. Moreover, the region is rich of stone age landmarks.

In contrast to that, a tomb reminding the medieval saint Sidi Saleh (Sīdi Ṣāliḥ) appears like recent history. Locals, however, still maintain their Berber heritage. Berber women, for instance, still feature their traditional face- and handtatoos.

Sidi Shil

TUNOCENT Project — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 20:09:55 +0000

Sidi Shil is a mountainous region in the Tunisian governorate of Kasserine. Due to its closeness to the town of Thala, Sidi Shil can be regarded as its northern suburb. While summers are hot and dry, the wintertime brings very cold temperatures and even large amounts of snowfall. Many inhabitants are of Bedouin origin and live their lives in accordance with tradition.

Suburbian flair

Old wall

On the way through Sidi Shil

Plant called Harmil

Bir Saad

TUNOCENT Project — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 11:24:29 +0000

Bir Saad is a village in the South Tunisian governorate of Gafsa. It is located a little more than ten kilometers to the east of the village of Bou Omrane. Actually, it directly abuts to the village of Bou Saad. However, the main road leading to the governorate’s capital of Gafsa, divides the two villages, since Bou Saad is in the north and Bir Saad in the south of it.

The Bou Saad tribe, however, constitutes the large majority of Bir Saad’s population. According to locals, this tribe originally came from the small town of Sened around 30 km to the north of Bir Saad. The other two big tribes, Ouled Zayd (Ūlǟd Zāyd) and il-Ayaysha (l-Aʕyǟyša) hail from the east. It is said that the Ayaysha tribesmen came from the close Belkhir region, the Ouled Zayd tribe, however, from the direction of the coastal city of Sfax. Since there have been no family relations between the three tribes, people used to be wary of each other for a long time. Nowadays, however, the situation has changed. Even marriages go beyond the tribal borders.

School built in 1969 (1)

Market place

Researcher Rawaa with her interviewee

Mosque

Ruins

Farming tools

Yet, the place bears witness to its history while adapting to modern times. The toponym Bir Saad, meaning “Saads well”, perpetuates the builder’s memory. At the same time, the well itself is still in use. As people have no water pipes, each house is equipped with a dug underground water reservoir used as well and called Majen (mǟžin).

Saad's well giving the place a name

Majen for digging rain water

Bazin dish

Local eating Bazin

How people live

Also, in respect to food and clothes, Bir Saad’s inhabitants draw on traditions. Bazin (bāzīn), for instance, represents a very traditional dish based on barley, which is cooked very often. Handcrafted are, moreover, the garments for festivities. The bridal gown, called Bakhnoug (baxnūg) is made of a woollen red fabric.

Bridal gown

Belt for the bridal gown

Bridal pillow

Handbag for the bride

Carpet

The traditional bride accessories consist of a belt, a handbag and a huge pillow, filled with wool and fragrant substances, for the bride and her husband to sleep on. Local women produce everything from the scratch and decorate their garments and accessories with elaborated and colourful patterns.

Interviewee explains the pattern of traditional wear

Bou Omrane

TUNOCENT Project — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 22:08:44 +0000

Between Mountain and Main Road, Old and New

Bou Omrane is a mountain village in the south Tunisian governorate of Gafsa and around 40 kilometres east of its capital.

Mosque of Bou Omrane

The mountain village of Bou Omrane

The mountains of Bou Omrane

Street leading from the old to the new Bou Omrane

St. Saleh on the mountain

Way to Bou Omrane

According to locals, their ancestors lead a nomadic life until the family tribes eventually started to settle down. First, they took up abode in the aligned village of Bou Saad. In the course of time, however, the families established themselves one after another permanently in the mountains of Bou Omrane. The first settler is said to be a certain Židd Bū ʕUmṛān “Grandpa Bou Omrane”, which is why some locals call their place also Awlǟd Bū ʕUmṛān “Bou Omrane’s children.” Old houses of the first settlements remain.

Old houses' remains

The old mountain village of Bou Omrane

Old door

Old houses' remains

The mountain village of Bou Omrane

As the population grew, people started to colonize the foot of the mountain, too. Thus, nowadays the village abuts on the main road, which connects it to the governorate’s eponymous capital of Gafsa. Appropriately, people call this part Bū ʕUmṛān iž-Ždīda “the new Bou Omrane”, while the earlier colonized part on the mountains is called Bū ʕUmṛān li-Gdīma “the old Bou Omrane”.

Local interviewee

House of a martyr who died under French occupation

Be that as it may, new and old melt together when it comes to lifestyle. While people welcome modernity, adapting their lives to changes, they keep on living their traditional life based on livestock and agriculture. Local women manufacture household textiles. According to our interviewees, the dialect of Bou Omrane also has more Berber vocabulary than that of Gafsa city.

Sheepskin carpet serving as padded underlay for sleeping - still in use

Handmade carpet

Manifactured underlay made of reed

Crafted tapestry

At the workshop

Traditional patterns

Sakiet Sidi Youssef

TUNOCENT Project — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 21:46:05 +0000

Sakiet Sidi Youssef is a small town in the northern part of the Tunisian governorate el Kef. Locals call it sometimes only with its short name “Segya”.

Communication road to Algeria

Impressions of Segya 2

Impressions of Saqya 1

Many tribes passed the place in transit. The tribesman Sidi Youssef ed-Dahmani (Sīdi Yūsuf id-Dahmǟni) of the huge Hilalian Riah branch was amongst them . Himself a former robber, Sidi Youssef decided to change sides and started fighting brigandage. Thus, the transit place was dedicated to Sidi Youssef, who is also known as the medieval saint of Dahmani.

In the woods of Saqiat

Pine tree

Pine cone

View over Segya from top

Nowadays, the place is characterized by a hilly landscape with pine trees and its quiet surroundings. However, Sakiet Sidi Youssef witnessed even in recent history commotions. Located on the Algerian-Kefian communication road, only a few kilometers from the border, the town in February 1958 sadly gained international attention. During the Algerian Revolution, the inhabitants of Sakiet Sidi Youssef had been supporting refugees bolting from the adjoining Algerian village Souk Ahras. Subsequently, the French occupation forces retaliated against this assistance and bombarded the Tunisian town, too. This reprisal attack led to more than 60 dead and even more injured people.

Roundabout

Location on the border

Cemetry of Segya

7oumna - "our hood"

Shlihat

TUNOCENT Project — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 14:20:16 +0000

Shlihat is a rural place 15 km to the south west of the governorate’s capital el Kef. According to local sources, the toponym harks back to a Berber tribe group, which was united with the great Huwara tribe Sharen (Šārin). Coming from the Kefian Mellegue hills the Šlīḥ tribe settled the place from the 1970s on. Thus, a local calls himself a Shlihi (šlīḥī) or herself a Shlihiya (šlīḥīya).

In this area of low population density, most residents run their own farms. Traditionally olive trees have been planted under the advantageous climatic conditions the place offers. Provided that there is any access to a water source, people nowadays cultivate a wealth of further vegetables and fruits.

Sbiba

TUNOCENT Project — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 08:25:26 +0000

Sbiba is an old town in the east of the Tunisian governorate of Kasserine. Ruins in its Fath-district (Ḥayy l-Fatḥ) bear witness to the Roman founders of the town. Moreover, street art calls to remind the history, but also shows contemporary motifs.

The Smile of Sbiba

reminding the history

Modern arts

Situated the river valley Oued el Hateb (Wǟd il-Ḥaṭib), a fertile soil and a peasant population characterize the region. Sbiba is famous for its apple plantations. Although its inhabitants are by far not only specialised in the cultivation of apples. Interestingly, their farming activities are linked to the tribes in Sbiba. Most tribes cultivate fruits. The numerous Sbitat tribe (is-Sbīṭāt), for instance, is specialized on apples, peaches, apricots, paprika and tomatoes. The Smeta (is-Smǟta), another tribe of Sbiba, in contrast, cultivates only cereals like barley and wheat, while the tribe Awled Kholfa (Awlǟd Xulfa) breeds sheep.

Sbiba's roundabout with apples

Jabbes

TUNOCENT Project — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 20:52:10 +0000

Jabbes is in the north-eastern part of the Tunisian Kasserine governorate. It is a very pastoral place with a cactus landscape situated on a mountain chain. There are many sacred sites up on those mountains. The tombs of the female saint Židda Žǟlīya as well as the male saints Židdi Sǟfi and Sīdi ʕAlī Šǟyib are located there. Moreover, a local centre is called after the saint ʕAlī b. Žbal, meaning “Ali, son of the mountains”. Sīdi ʕAbd il-Qǟdir is a further example of a saint after whom a part of Jabbes is named.

Landscape of Jabbes

Houses 1

Cactusus and mountains

Animals

Cactuses, trees and mountains

Once per year, people pilgrimage to these cultural sites. The festivities in honour of a saint usually last two days. On the first day, people visit the place (zyāra), laying down money, frankincense (bxūr) or Jawi-incense (žāwi). One day after that, the celebration follows. People install stands to sell sweets, fruits or other things. In previous times, this celebration was called zarda. Nowadays, people in Jabbes, however, call it festival (mahražǟn) dedicating it to the respective saint.

Shmeysiya

TUNOCENT Project — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 19:58:26 +0000

Shmeysiya, also called Shmeyshiya, is a small village in the countryside of the town Dahmani within the Tunisian governorate of el Kef. As the place provides both, arable land and the access to water sources, locals mainly work in husbandry. While people grow fruits like melons, various kinds of vegetables and herbs, their livestock encompasses amongst others, goats, sheep and chickens. Thus, people usually produce most of their groceries by themselves.

Sbiat

TUNOCENT Project — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 10:54:17 +0000

Sbiat is a rural place in the south of the Tunisian el Kef governorate between the towns of Tajerouine and Jerissa. According to local sources, the name Sbiat traces back to a branch of the big Berber tribe of the Huwara (Huwāra) that are of Tripolitanian origin. Most people are engaged in farming and cultivate, in particular, cereals and olives, but also fruits like figs and the pip fruit zaʕrūr. Moreover, many locals work in the cement industry of Jerissa, which is only 6 km from Sbiat.