By Nidal Abrouk - Magharebia, U.S.A.Monday, July 16, 2007
Tunis/Carthage: The 43rd International Carthage Festival opened Saturday (July 14th) at the historic Carthage Theatre in Tunisia.
The opening event, "Voices from Tunisia", saw the participation of 270 dancers, poets and singers, as well as shows of traditional Tunisian dress and heritage from north to south.
The three-hour presentation included seven musical shows, ranging from modern lyrical rhythms, composition and Sufi music to music of the islands, interspersed with poetry readings that linked the various performances together.
"It is a reflection of all Tunisian musical dialects, in addition to displays of traditional dress and horsemanship," said Raja Farhat, the show's producer and director of the International Carthage Festival.
"Voices from Tunisia is an expression of the interconnection between the Tunisian regions and the will to live," Farhat added.
"The presentation is a sense of the fulfilment of all voices of Tunisia that sang in the past," Tunisian artist Zohra Lajnef told Magharebia. "And it is a return to Tunisian heritage in women's and men’s singing and Sufi songs. It is an excerpt of Tunisian identity in a diverse performance."
The decor reflected this artistic purity of origin, as resplendent traditional textiles were used to drape the theatre stage and its sides, recalling joyous festivities and taking observers back to the atmosphere which inspired these musical genres.
Among the groups taking part were Issawa, Stambali, Salamiya Tunis, the Qadiriya from Gafsa, Dahmani Horseman, Malouf Testour and El-Hmarna from Gabes. Some musical instruments were used, such as the kassbah and gambari, to accompany the Stambali and Bousaidia dance show, with its vibrant folkloric spirit.
Popular poets such as Khalifa al-Darida had a significant presence, connecting one show with the next and enriching the performances with their rural experiences. Ideas of identity and nation were celebrated in the poetic words of epic novel El-Hilaliyah and the conflict against Abou Zayd and its re-enactment in a horsemanship display on the theatre grounds.
Regarding this display, Tunisian actor Lutfi Addaziri said "The idea is based primarily on the story El-Hilaliyah. It is an opportunity the festival seized to focus on a main idea, which is: despite problems and wars, it is necessary to stay together."
These displays earned the public's approval. "The presentation won my admiration, especially since it enabled me to learn about Tunisian popular poetry," said Mounir Daouadi, following the presentation.
Zohra Lajnef said it was "a distinctive presentation. For the first time, the opening presentation was from throughout the republic. Likewise, the traditional Tunisian dress is outstanding."
Some found fault with the festival director however, in his reliance on simplicity in decor, the lighting and the speed with which one display moved to the next. It was not easy for those in attendance to understand the various historical stages and the entities to which the presentation was attempting re-enact.
The International Carthage Festival will host 45 performances in Tunisia through August 16th.
The opening event, "Voices from Tunisia", saw the participation of 270 dancers, poets and singers, as well as shows of traditional Tunisian dress and heritage from north to south.
The three-hour presentation included seven musical shows, ranging from modern lyrical rhythms, composition and Sufi music to music of the islands, interspersed with poetry readings that linked the various performances together.
"It is a reflection of all Tunisian musical dialects, in addition to displays of traditional dress and horsemanship," said Raja Farhat, the show's producer and director of the International Carthage Festival.
"Voices from Tunisia is an expression of the interconnection between the Tunisian regions and the will to live," Farhat added.
"The presentation is a sense of the fulfilment of all voices of Tunisia that sang in the past," Tunisian artist Zohra Lajnef told Magharebia. "And it is a return to Tunisian heritage in women's and men’s singing and Sufi songs. It is an excerpt of Tunisian identity in a diverse performance."
The decor reflected this artistic purity of origin, as resplendent traditional textiles were used to drape the theatre stage and its sides, recalling joyous festivities and taking observers back to the atmosphere which inspired these musical genres.
Among the groups taking part were Issawa, Stambali, Salamiya Tunis, the Qadiriya from Gafsa, Dahmani Horseman, Malouf Testour and El-Hmarna from Gabes. Some musical instruments were used, such as the kassbah and gambari, to accompany the Stambali and Bousaidia dance show, with its vibrant folkloric spirit.
Popular poets such as Khalifa al-Darida had a significant presence, connecting one show with the next and enriching the performances with their rural experiences. Ideas of identity and nation were celebrated in the poetic words of epic novel El-Hilaliyah and the conflict against Abou Zayd and its re-enactment in a horsemanship display on the theatre grounds.
Regarding this display, Tunisian actor Lutfi Addaziri said "The idea is based primarily on the story El-Hilaliyah. It is an opportunity the festival seized to focus on a main idea, which is: despite problems and wars, it is necessary to stay together."
These displays earned the public's approval. "The presentation won my admiration, especially since it enabled me to learn about Tunisian popular poetry," said Mounir Daouadi, following the presentation.
Zohra Lajnef said it was "a distinctive presentation. For the first time, the opening presentation was from throughout the republic. Likewise, the traditional Tunisian dress is outstanding."
Some found fault with the festival director however, in his reliance on simplicity in decor, the lighting and the speed with which one display moved to the next. It was not easy for those in attendance to understand the various historical stages and the entities to which the presentation was attempting re-enact.
The International Carthage Festival will host 45 performances in Tunisia through August 16th.
[picture: Tunisian popular singers perform "Des voix de la Tunisie" (Voices from Tunisia) during the opening of the Carthage International Festival, July 14th 2007 at the Roman Amphitheatre in Carthage, near Tunis. Photo by Getty Images]
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