Today, we will be talking about the beautiful city of Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. Where does the name Tunis come from? Is Tunisia, the name of the country whose capital is Tunis, just a derivative of the name Tunis?
Well for starters the city of Tunis is built on a set of hills that go down towards the lake of Tunis. Tunis was born at the crossroads between the basins of lake Tunis and the Séjoumi. Situated on a large Mediterranean Sea gulf (the Gulf of Tunis), behind the Lake of Tunis and the port of La Goulette (Halq al Wadi), the city extends along the coastal plain and the hills that surround it. At the centre of more modern development (from the colonial era and later) lies the old medina. Beyond this district lie the suburbs of Carthage, La Marsa, and Sidi Bou Said.
Map of Tunisia (from World Atlas)
Tunis is the French transcription of a name, which is pronounced tûnus, tûnasor tûnis(with û sounding like an ‘ou’ in French) in Arabic. The three pronunciations were indicated by the arab geographer Yaqout al-Rumi in his book Mu’jam al-Buldan (Dictionary of countries). The last pronunciation tûnis is the most used of the city’s name tûnisi ou tûnusi. This vocable is defined to mean “to lie down” or “lying down”, and by extension “spending the night,” or “spending the night at”, or “getting somewhere and spending the night.” Among many of the derivatives of this term, one can find tinés (pluriel de ténésé) which indicate “the idea of lying down,” and by extension “the fact of spending the night.”
Ancient Tunisia
Thus the name Tunis probably had the meaning of “night camp” or “bivouac” or “stop.” In the ancient toponymy of Roman Africa, several towns carry similar names such as: Tuniza (modern-day El Kala), Thunusuda (modern-day Sidi Meskine), Thinissut (modern-day Bir Bouregba), Thunisa (modern-day Ras Jebel) or Cartennae (modern-day Ténès in Algeria). All these berber localities were located on roman roads, and probably served as road houses, or stops. From the name Tunis, arose the country name Tunisia. The name gained prominence among French historians and geographers, by analogy with the word Algeria derived from Algiers. Today Tunis is well-known for its beauty, its people, and its sunny days; it is one of Africa’s best touristic spots. Enjoy the video below, which gives a quick historical view of Tunis and Tunisia.
Malgré son odeur vraiment désagréable, le bouc est respecté par les autres animaux. Il passe pour un sage et on écoute ses conseils : d’ailleurs n’est-ce pas lui qui porte la barbiche comme un vieillard ? Mais le bouc n’a pas toujours eu cette réputation, et je vais vous dire comment il l’a acquise.
Autrefois, tous les animaux vivaient en paix. L’éléphant, la panthère, le bouc et l’hyène étaient alors de bons amis. Ils travaillaient tous quatre sur une grande plantation qui leur appartenait collectivement. A l’heure des repas, ils partaient, chacun de leur coté, chercher la nourriture. Ils faisaient la cuisine, chacun pour soi. Cela leur prenait beaucoup de temps.
Un jour, ils décident de mieux s’arranger entre eux. C’est l’hyène qui a cette idée. C’est elle aussi qui propose un règlement fort simple que les trois autres acceptent aussitôt. Voici ce règlement qui tient en une seule phrase : Chacun à notre tour, nous fournirons la viande pour nous quatre, pendant toute une semaine.
Le lendemain l’hyène propose d’ajouter une deuxième phrase. Voici ce qu’elle veut faire ajouter : Celui qui n’arrivera pas à rassasier les trois autres sera mangé par eux.
Cette règle est acceptée aussitôt par les quatre amis. Sans réfléchir, le bouc a donné son accord.
Elephant
La première semaine est celle de l’éléphant. Il va dans la forêt frappant tout ce qui passe à portée de sa trompe. Il rapporte du gibier en grande quantité. Il prépare des repas si copieux que les quatre amis ne peuvent en venir à bout. Les charognards qui viennent mangé les restes ne peuvent plus s’envoler, tellement leur ventre est plein.
La deuxième semaine, c’est la panthère qui reçoit les autres. Elle leur sert d’énormes quartiers de viande. Le soir, elle se cache près du marigot, les hautes herbes, et elle attrape les animaux qui viennent boire : singes, antilopes, phacochères … Les ventres des quatre amis sont si pleins qu’ils peuvent à peine travailler sur leur plantation. La terre parait basse quand on n’arrive plus à se plier.
La troisième semaine est celle de l’hyène. La nuit, elle va voler des morceaux de viande aux autres animaux et elle les traîne chez elle. Cette viande laissée par les lions et les charronnages n’est pas toujours très fraîche. Elle sent parfois mauvais, mais il y en a beaucoup. En se bouchant le nez, chacun peut manger à sa faim.
Enfin arrive le tour du bouc. Jusqu’à maintenant il n’y a pas songé et il a mené joyeuse vie. Quand il s’aperçoit que l’hyène le regarde souvent en se léchant les babines, il commence à comprendre, et il commence à avoir à peur. Elle est sûre qu’il n’arrivera pas à attraper du gibier : est-ce que vous connaissez un seul bouc capable de chasser ?Continue reading “L’Eléphant, la Panthère, l’Hyène et le Bouc”→
After “Les Immortels” by Franklin Boukaka, it is only normal that I would talk about Mehdi Ben Barka himself, and why he brought so much hope to people in Morocco, Africa, and the entire world. Yes, his work encompassed all the oppressed people of the globe.
Mehdi Ben Barka was a Moroccan politician born in January of 1920 in Rabat, Morocco. Although from a middle class background, Ben Barka was among the first to attend the French school (which was mostly for rich people), as he was always the best and brightest in his class. He was the first Moroccan to receive a degree in mathematics in an official French school in 1950. He then taught mathematics in a local Lycée (high school), and at the Royal College, where young Hassan II was one of his students. Working in parallel, Mehdi got involved in politics, and worked to challenge the French “Protectorate” on Morocco. In 1943, he got involved in the creation of the National Istiqlal Party. In 1955, Mehdi took part in negociations which culminated with the return of Sultan Mohammed V, who had been exiled by the French authorities to Madagascar. In 1956, Ben Barka’s other negociations culminated with the end of the French protectorate on Morocco. From 1956 to 1959, Mehdi Ben Barka was president of the consultative assembly of Morocco. In 1959, Mehdi broke off from the National Istiqlal Party after clashes with conservative opponents, and found l’Union Nationale des Forces Populaires – National Union of Popular Forces (UNPF).
King Hassan II
The future King Hassan II, then chief of the army, wanting to inherit his father’s trone as soon as possible, called for repression against subversion, against any opposition in the land. This forced Ben Barka to go on exile in Paris, as Ben Barka was King Hassan II’s principal opponent. After King Mohammed V’s death in 1961, Hassan II ascended to the throne, and claimed to want to make peace with his main opponent. Ben Barka returned from exile in May 1962. On 16 November 1962, Mehdi escaped an attack on his life (car accident, where his car was forced into a ravine by a police car), which had been fomented by the services of General Mohamed Oufkir and colonel Ahmed Dlimi. In June of 1963, Ben Barka was accused of plotting against the monarchy, and once again forced into exile; this was plot by King Hassan II, to dissolve the UNFP, the main opposition to his reign. On 22 November 1963, Ben Barka is sentenced to death in absentia, for conspiracy and attempt to assassinate the king. Some think that this was also caused by Ben Barka’s calling upon Moroccan soldiers to refuse to fight Algeria in the 1963Sand War. Ben Barka first went on exile in Algiers, Algeria, where he met with Che Guevara, Amilcar Cabral, and Malcolm X. Then he went to Cairo, Rome, Geneva (where he escaped several attacks on his life), and Havana, trying to unite the revolutionary movements of the Third World for the Tricontinental Conference to be held in January 1966 in Havana. As the leader of the Tricontinental, Ben Barka was seen as a major figure in the Third World movement, and supported revolutionary, and anti-colonial actions in various states, thus provoking the anger of the United States and France. Just before his death, he was preparing the first Tricontinental Conference scheduled to take place in Havana, Cuba, from 3 -13 January 1966.
Mehdi Ben Barka during an address
On October 29, 1965, Mehdi Ben Barka was abducted (“disappeared”) in Paris by French police officers. He was never to be seen again. On Dec. 29, 1975, Time magazine published an article called “The Murder of Mehdi Ben Barka”, stating that three Moroccan agents were responsible for the death of Ben Barka, one of them former Interior Minister Mohammed Oufkir. Speculation persists as to CIA involvement. French intelligence agents and the IsraeliMossad were also involved, according to the article. Many believe that the abduction and removal of Mehdi Ben Barka on that cold day of October 29, 1965, was to give a blow to the impetus of the Tricontinental Conference,which was going to have effects on liberation movements across the globe, and thus hurt imperialist powers (US, France, UK, Portugal, Spain…).
Indeed Mehdi Ben Barka was a true hero, some refer to him as the Moroccan Che Guevara… To many, he was hope itself… His charisma, and his work went beyond Morocco’s borders and blessed the entire globe, countries which were oppressed by imperialist powers and which over 50 years later are still suffering from neo-colonialism, and ferocious capitalism/imperialism. You can read more on how the French government is still stalling on the “Ben Barka affair” at the Guardian, and check out this interview of Bachir Ben Barka, Mehdi’s son, who was aged 15 at the time of his father’s abduction. Watch this really good documentary below which details the life of Mehdi Ben Barka. 50 years after his disappearance, the “Ben Barka affair” still remains an open dossier. One can only sing, like Franklin Boukaka, ‘Mehdi nzela na yo na bato nyonso’ … Mehdi your work is that of humanity! So long brother, your work and vision will keep guiding us. ‘Oh O Mehdi Ben Barka, Mehdi nzela na yo na bato nyonso.’
Ici sont les lyriques de la chanson “Les Immortels” de Franklin Boukaka. Lorsqu’on lit ces paroles, on se dit “quelle beauté! Quelle grandeur, quel amour de l’Afrique!”
Africa mobimba e … L’Afrique toute entière
Tokangi maboko e … A croisé les bras
Tozali kotala e … Nous observons impuissants
Bana basili na kokende … La perte de ses enfants
Bana basili na kotekama e … Le trafic de ses enfants
Na banguna a ……………… Auprès des ennemis
Tolati mokuya ata maloba te … Silencieux, nous avons porté un voile noir de deuil
Congo na bana Africa baleli … Le Congo et l’Afrique fondent en larmes (2X)
“Les Immortels” is a song written and composed by Franklin Boukaka, the great Congolese singer, to honor the great Moroccan leader Mehdi Ben Barka, African resistants, and world revolutionaries. Franklin Boukaka was a singer ahead of his time who loved his country, and had a passion for liberty. Franklin Boukaka was a freedom fighter, poet, composer, activist, and fought for African independence both politically, but above all by his great songs which today are still sung across Africa (you all have probably heard of “Aye Africa“). Born into music on 10 October 1940, with musician parents, he was murdered during the coup that deposed Ange Diawara during the night of 23-24 February1972. His greatest album was “Le Bucheron” realized with Manu Dibango, which contains “Les Immortels.” With all that is happening in Africa, with the coup against Laurent Gbagbo in Côte d’Ivoire, the crush of Libya and the guide of the revolution Mouammar Khadafi, and with the destruction of Mali, “Les Immortels” is still of actuality. Enjoy!
Today’s post will be dedicated to a great resistant and leader of Africa, the great Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer (also known as Lalla Fatma N’Soumer), an important figure of resistance against French invasion in Algeria. Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer has been seen as the embodiment of the Algerian struggle. The war of colonization in Algeria was one of the most brutal and repressive in Africa; it is said that Algeria lost 1/3 of its population between 1830 and 1872. The war was quite atrocious, and very often we are told of the courage and charisma of leaders such as the emir Abdel Kader, but often in history books, the names of heroines like Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer are forgotten or simply erased.
Fadhma N’Soumer
Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer was born in Werja, a village near Ain El Hammam in 1830, the year French occupation started in Algeria. She was from Kabylie. Lalla, the female equivalent of sidi, is an honorific reserved for women of high rank, or who are venerated as saints. Her real name was Fadhma Nat Si Hmed. The title, N’Soumer, was given to her because of her piety and strength and because she lived in the village of Soumer. Fadhma was the daughter of cheikh Ali Ben Aissi, who headed a Qur’anic school, which was linked with the Zawyia Rahmaniya of Sidi Mohamed Ibn Abderrahmane Abu Qabrein. Young Fadhma was extremely gifted, and memorized the Qur’an simply by listening to her father’s disciples when they chanted the various surats. After her father’s death, Fadhma directed the Qur’anic school with her brother Si Mohand Tayeb. She took special care of the children and the poor. She was known for her great piety, notable wisdom, piercing intelligence, and had an excellent reputation throughout the Kabylie region.
Battle of Somah in 1836 (by Horace Vernet)
Fadhma was only 16 when the French occupied Kabylie. In 1847, she joined the resistance leaders of the region: Si Mohamed El-Hachemi and Mohamed El Amdjed Ibn Abdelmalek (nicknamed Bou-Baghla). Bou-Baghla was probably an ex-lieutenant in the army of Emir Abdelkader, defeated for the last time by the French in 1847. Refusing to surrender, Bou Baghla retreated to Kabylie. From there, he began a war against the French armies and their allies, often employing guerilla tactics. He was a relentless fighter, very eloquent, and very religious. Fadhma and Bou-Baghla were kindred spirits fighting for the freedom of their people. After Bou-Baghla’s death in 1854, Fadhma was given command of combat by the great council of combatants and important figures of the Kabylie’s tribes.
She led a strong resistance against Marshal Jacques Louis Randon’s 13,000-strong French army. She gave them a lesson of courage, and determination. Armed with an unshakable faith, Fadhma threw herself in bloody battles to push back the enemy. During the battle of Tachekkirt, led by Bou-Baghla at the time, Randon was captured, but managed to escape later. During the famous battle of Oued Sebaou, Fadhma was only 24 years old, and headed an army of men and women; she took control, and led her people to victory, a victory heralded throughouth Kabylie. The mosques, zawiyas, and Qur’anic schools sang praises in honor of the heroine of the Djurdjura.
Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer during battle (in reality, it is said that she never used weapons)
Not willing to accept defeat, Randon asked for reinforcements, with his forces reaching 35,000 men. He asked the people of Azazga to help him reach Fadhma N’Soumer’s quarters, to end “her legend, and misdeeds.” The response to his emissary was “Go to the one who sent you, and tell him our ears cannot hear the language of him who asks us to betray.” Such was the loyalty and respect of the people for Fadhma. In response, Randon promised the people of Azazga constant exposure to his cannons. One can only imagine the brutality of the French against the Azazga people, which were later defeated. Fadhma did not give up, and mobilized her people to “fight for Islam, the land, and liberty. They are our constant, and they are sacred. They can neither be the object of concessions nor haggling.” Her strong personality and inspirational speeches had a strong influence in all of Kabylie, as shown by the sacrifice and determination of the people during all the battles, especially those of Icherridene and Tachkrit,where the enemy troops were greatly defeated. The latter took place on July 18 – 19, 1854, and resulted in a heavy death toll (over 800 dead) for the French troops.
Monument celebrating Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer, in Algiers
Defeated, Randon finally asked for a ceasefire, which Fadhma N’Soumer agreed to. She was planning to use the ceasefire period to improve her organization and reinforce her troops. Fields were plowed and sowed, and arms factories were installed in all corners of the region. However, just like with Samori Toure, or Behanzin, the French did not respect the ceasefire. In 1857, after only three years, they broke their word (as always) and launched offensives in all large cities which had been hard to overtake until then. History will record that the French were always people of no word during the colonization (and even today); they used every sneaky technique they could find to eliminate others… and even with all their ‘superior’ gunpower, and manpower, they could not have won against our great African leaders without using treachery, and treason.
Poem dedicated to Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer (from Poésies populaires de la Kabylie du Jurjura, Paris 1867)
Fadhma N’Soumer, whose influence motivated the freedom fighters, appealed to the people for a last and supreme effort. Surrounded by women of the region, Lalla Fadhma directed the fight and encouraged remaining volunteers. However, they lost the battle, and Fadhma was arrested on 27 July 1857, in the village of Takhlijt Ath Atsou, near Tirourda. The French soldiers destroyed her rich library, which contained a rich source of scientific and religious works from the region. They also spent her fortune, which had been used toward caring for the disciples of her father’s zawiya. Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer died in 1863, from the hardship of incarceration in Béni Slimane, from the news of her brother’s passing, and the frustration from her inability to act against French aggression on her people. She was only 33 years old. The enemy (the French) nicknamed her, the Joan of Ark of theDjurdjura, a comparison that the religious Fadhma never accepted.
To read more about French invasion of Algeria, check out Mediapart. Watch the video below to learn more about Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer (It has 5 parts, and is very instructive). Whenever you think of resistance in Africa, please do remember Lalla Fadhma N’Soumer who by her courage, piety, strength, and charisma was able to defeat the mighty French army, and capture a French marshal/general. Remember that there was a woman who held a rich library of scientific and religious works which was destroyed by the French army (it must have been full of treasures for them to destroy). Remember that this woman served the people, and love them dearly to sacrifice her life for their freedom. Remember, yes, that a woman led men and women to battles, and actually won!
I always thought the name of the country Sierra Leone was rather strange: how could a predominantly Muslim, English-speaking, African country have an Italian name? There was never an Italian presence in that region of Africa. So why in the world, is an ex-British colony with slaves returning from America, slaves who had fought on the British side during the American revolutionary war from 1775 to 1783, carrying an Italian name, and what does it mean?
Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 1856
Well, in 1462, the Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra sailing down the West African coast, saw the tall mountains rising from what is now Freetown peninsula or harbor, and named the area ‘Serra de Leão,’ which means ‘mountains of the lion’, or ‘hills of the lion,’ because of the shape formed by the hills surrounding the harbor. The rendering of this geographic formation is Sierra Leone, Leone being the Italian for Lion, while Sierra is Spanish for hills or mountain, thus the name. In reality, it is said that it was leona in Spanish which was accidentally changed to Leone; so the origin should be Spanish. Sierra Leone has the third largest natural harbor in the world. Archaeologically, that area has been inhabited continuously for the past 2500 years, from successive movements from other parts of Africa. In 1495, the Portuguese established a port there, and were later joined by the Dutch and French, who used the area as a slave trading point. In 1787, a first settlement of those called Black poors was founded in the Province of Freedom. They were later decimated by the indigenous population. A second settlement came in composed of Nova Scotian settlers, and Jamaican Maroons. Sometime, at the beginning of the 19th century, Sierra Leone became a British colony. Sierra Leone today is a true melting pot of Temne, Mende, Limba, Fula, Mandingo, Kono, and Krio (descendants of African American, West Indies slaves, etc) people. In 2006, the country was featured in the movie Blood Diamond with Leonardo DiCaprio.
So there goes the story of a British colony, English-speaking country, predominantly Muslim, with an Italian name in an area where no Italian explorer had set foot. Enjoy this video on Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.
Il était une fois un homme et une femme qui, malgré de longues années de mariage, n’avaient pas d’enfants. L’épouse s’en désolait et se désespérait. Un matin, elle parti puiser de l’eau au marigot. Tout le long du chemin, elle avait pensé au bébé qu’elle n’aurait jamais et son visage était couvert de larmes. Seigneur Crocodile l’entend pleurer et s’approche : Femme, qu’as-tu ? Pourquoi sanglotes-tu si fort que tu troubles la paix de ma retraite ?
En tremblant, elle lui répond : Seigneur crocodile, je suis mariée depuis seize ans et je n’ai jamais pu donner d’enfant à mon époux. Quand je vois les bébés des autres femmes, je sens mon cœur se briser et mes entrailles se déchirer. Epris de compassion, Seigneur Crocodile déclare : Femme, si tu désires vraiment un enfant, je puis t’aider ! Mais tu dois d’abord me jurer que tu exécuteras tous mes ordres.
Pleine d’espoir, la pauvre créature essuie ses larmes et donne sa promesse qu’elle obéira en tout à son bienfaiteur. Parlez ! Je ferai tout ce que vous direz. Alors seigneur crocodile lui dit : Retourne chez toi. Prends trois œufs et apporte-les-moi.
La femme part aussitôt. Quelques instants plus tard, elle est de retour avec les œufs et les offre au seigneur crocodile. Celui-ci les prend gravement et continue : Ecoute-moi bien maintenant! dans neuf lunes, ton enfant naîtra. Si c’est un garçon, élève-le dans le respect de ceux de mon espèce. Il faut qu’il devienne notre ami, et ne nous fasse jamais la guerre en souvenir de moi. Si c’est une fille, alors, prépare-la à devenir mon épouse dès qu’elle aura éteint l’âge oublie.
– C’est promis ! seigneur crocodile, grand merci de votre bonté. Je raconterai à mon mari ce que vous avez fait pour nous et nous tiendrons parole, s’écrie la femme transportée de joie. Continue reading “Seigneur Crocodile et Jeune Fille”→
Three statues recently discovered in the tomb of the princess (Source: artdaily.org)
Archaeologists have unearthed the 4,500 year old tomb of a pharaonic princess, just south of Cairo. This discovery may lead to the discovery of other ancient tombs from before 2,500BC. Princess Shert Nebti‘s burial site is surrounded by the tombs of four high officials from the Fifth Dynasty dating to around 2,500 BC in the Abusir complex near the famed step pyramid of Saqqara. Inscriptions on the four limestone pillars of the Princess’ tomb indicate that she is the daughter of King Men Salbo. Only her tomb has been unearthed; her father, the king, or her mother, are yet to be found. The antechamber to the princess’ tomb includes four limestone columns and hieroglyphic inscriptions. The current excavation has also unearthed an antechamber containing the sarcophagi of the four officials and statues of men, women, and a child.
I stumbled across this poem which praises the African beauty, that of: our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, and our wives. It is true that the African standard of beauty has now become the world standard of beauty. Women around the world want to have lips like Angelina Jolie, when we, Africans were blessed with real luscious lips. Western media emphasize J-Lo‘s big butt, when the African woman was naturally born bootylicious. Men love women with nice curves like Halle Berry … well, I guess God was truly showing off when He created the Black woman. Enjoy ‘African Woman’ by Swabi Mnisi.
You, with big butt and small waist Those goodies wrapped in unequalled curves Fat lips that produce a mouth watering kiss With that black face and woolly hair You are my African queen
The she-hero, Saartjie Bartman stood her ground In the mist of derogation, she remained proud Her bums defied western notions Big became beautiful and Africa a fishing pond Thanks to the African queen
Africa is blessed to have you, don’t disappoint You are the only species with big booty The only one with resilient black skin So please do not bleach, you are a queen
African Heritage 