Fdaouis largely did in public places rooms – cafes, s. Particular cafes even got their bards. In the midst of the newest smoke, chatter, arguments and you can laughter, it amused, sidetracked making its living. Even though it try frowned-upon having a woman to linger exterior her home and you will hear the latest tales out of men which is trying to seduce otherwise corrupt their particular, many women performed participate in so it someone artwork, revealing their stories at your home. In this children or personal system, women carry out employ who among the mothers, aunts, grandmas and siblings was basically very competent on storytelling. That is exactly how my cousin turned the family members’ unofficial fdaouia – generally since the immediately after she becomes come, no person can stop their particular.
Adopting the my personal father’s memories, I was attracted to mention the realm of Tunisian bards. Their vast repertoire of tales varied, just a few prominent archetypes shone using. There are reports about the aroussa, or bride to be, the latest azouza, or dated woman, rich entrepreneurs, sultans and you may poor, sad souls. Matrimonial issues and you may genetics problems looked heavily. Reports could continue for days or a short while. Into the smaller front side, Tunisian bards drew towards the Joha collection, a well-known men reputation encountered in the reports regarding Main China so you’re able to Northern Africa. Joha, labeled as Nasreddin Hodja within the Turkey, is actually an irreverent trickster, exactly who commonly discovers himself during the grotesque circumstances. Someday, Joha visits the market. He ends during the a good grilled meat stay; it appears tasty. Unexpectedly, the retailer asks him to pay. “But why?” asks Joha, who failed to eat things. “You smelled my personal meat, you must pay!” Joha takes out a coin and you can throws it in to the an excellent tin package. “Today shell out myself, because you heard the newest holding away from my personal coin.”
Epics grabbed weeks so you’re able to narrate. Included in this, the new Arabian impressive out-of Antar, an excellent knight and you can poet, who’s influenced Arthurian romances. But the most well-known of the many epics is actually this new “Sirat Bani Hilal” otherwise “Al-Hilaliyyah.”
In the nearly one million passages, this new impressive is among the longest historic poems that bards memorized from a single generation to another, and you may, since it try tend to informed at the weddings or any other family festivals, their tale was woven into the towel off Tunisian society.
He shakes the container from time to time and you can confronts the retailer
Just like the steaming piles of couscous was served, family members within their finery do gather within bard to hear the storyline of harrowing travels of one’s Banu Hilal Bedouin group and their leader Abu Zayd to help you Tunisia. Bards, tend to followed closely by an effective troupe out-of instrumentalists, perform recount the new common tale out-of Abu Zayd’s ominous beginning – a black bird seemed to their mom whenever she was expecting – additionally the hardships the guy experienced in order to become a worthy champion.
The guy matches so you’re able to marry their precious Abla, which leads your towards the a lot of adventures to demonstrate his courage
But the true cardiovascular system of story is dependent on your way towards the exile of Abu Zayd in addition to Banu Hilal confederation regarding people the guy leads. It’s a keen Arab “Iliad”-meets-“Holy grail.” Years of scarce as well as reasonable precipitation precipitate the newest departure off the tribe tysk piger til Г¦gteskab using their homeland. That it migration, called the “taghriba,” performed usually occur during the 11th century. Tens of thousands of Arabs marched westward to help you south Tunisia, and you will, regarding the unbelievable, they come across even more detours and you will adventures just after a first reconnaissance mission runs into complications (connected with a beneficial seductress, a snake or other temptations and you may potential risks). The segment of story you to identifies this new tribes’ Tunisian peregrinations might take the full date for bards to help you recount. It’s a heartbreaking tale out-of conquest and you may failure. United throughout conflict-big date, Abu Zayd and his tribesmen invariably slain both on the spoils.
