Tunisia plans summer season full of festivals
2009-07-03
From Charles Aznavour and Warda in Carthage, to theatre spectacles in Hammamet and small classical music concerts, hundreds of summer festival season events offer something for every Tunisian taste.
By Mona Yahya for Magharebia in Tunis – 03/07/09
 [Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images] Tunisian singer Saber Rebai is one of many other renowned singers who will headline this year's Carthage International Festival. |
Cities all over Tunisia are preparing to host more than 300 festivals over the next two months. People are excited. Even though the summer holidays coincide with the holy month of Ramadan in late August and all the related expenses, Tunisians are ready to party.
"After a year of hard work and the pressures of work and study", said Soha, a student, "one must find one’s rest on the beach, in picnics, and especially in the summer festivals."
The first event is the 45th Carthage International Festival, kicking of next Thursday (July 9th). Organisers already secured several music icons to participate in the festival, including Saber Rebai, Warda Al-Jazairia, Cheb Khalid, Fadhl Shaker, Marcel Khalifa, Melhim Barakat and Sherin Abdelwahab.
Carthage fans will also enjoy the music of renowned French singer Charles Aznavour. The legendary performer will appear in concert on July 21st. His show has the priciest ticket: about 67 dinars. Aznavour was reportedly paid $600,000 for his appearance.
"Aznavour’s presence in Tunisia is an opportunity that I can’t possibly miss," said fan Moez Massmoudi, "even if the ticket is expensive".
"Summer is for joy and amusement," said Omar. He said the cost will not affect the family's budget. "Most of the Tunisian families prepare ahead for these summer events."
As Ramadan nears, many people wait eagerly for the month's special events. Music, cultural and religious festivals abound. Tunisians will have a choice of indoor and outdoor entertainment all month long.
"Each festival has its own peculiarities," said Dorra. "However, in the summer, I still prefer open-air theatres."
There are more than 300 cultural events in Tunisia , from jazz and Maalouf to theatre performances at the Hammamat International Festival.
"This year, we were keen to diversify the theatrical and musical shows to accommodate different tastes," said event director Assad ben Abdallah.
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tunisien 100% Posted 2009-07-04
Tunisia is the oasis of permanent joy in the country of security and safety. Welcome our brothers.
Anonymous Posted 2009-07-05
The outcome of the presidential elections in October is already known, so it is completely normal to begin celebrating President Ben Ali's victory now. However, we have to be careful to hide this celebration behind the pretext of a festival, especially given what is going on in Honduras. There, President Zelaya, who dreamed of a referendum to change the constitution so that he could run for a second term, was quickly brought to law and sent off to Costa Rica in his pajamas. Even in a banana republic, there are things that you just do not do. Happy celebrating, Tunisia!
amamou Posted 2009-07-07
Thank you for all of this information, but when is Saber Rebai? -Sincerely
mouldi maaroufi Posted 2009-07-07
We will celebrate in any event despite your anonymous hatred ,envy and jalousy we will celebrate now and we will celebrate then and we will continue our celebrations in the future and we will enjoy our celebrations we will share our joy and we will not think of you nor wander much how you are or if you even exist.The whole islamic world is celebrating our president. And if you do not like him tough luck i hope you get cancer.
Anonymous Posted 2009-07-08
Poor ministry of information in lack of an adequate answer and arguments, and hiding behind a fake reader. Incapacity of refuting the truth degenerates in aggressiveness and digital cancer wishes. You certainly heard of 'Cancer Ward' by Solzhenitsyn. Intolerance and cruelty of totalitarian regimes are everywhere the same, under all skies and in all times. The wish is killing the messenger when you don't like the message. But the truth will prevail at the end. Aggressiveness derived from impotence illustrates which fate is facing dissidents who denounce injustice in the country of dialogue, tolerance and civilization. The country which has a ministry for Human Rights. What would it be if you didn't have such such a ministry? Anyway, you made the allegations of the victims of persecutions and torture more credible.
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