The 9th edition of the Sufi music and spirituality festival, Rouhaniyat Nefta, or "Dourat Al-Safaa," started on Thursday in Nefta, Tunisia. The festival began with a morning intellectual symposium, followed by diverse activities, including conferences, animation shows by Sufi groups, musical performances, and Zikr and Inshad sessions. These events will run for three days, attracting many visitors from within and outside the region.
Nefta city will host a significant number of visitors during the festival, who will participate in various activities from morning until late at night. According to Nazar Nasr, the festival's director, the events will start in the city center and move to the old city's Raba'a market, featuring performances by local and guest Sufi groups. Some of the performances include "Majazib" by Darid Al-Swisi and the epic "Sultan Al-Jarid Sidi Bou Ali."
The festival will also feature daily musical performances at the Al-Bayadha handicraft space in Nefta, from 7 to 9 PM. These performances include "Eisawiya Sidi Al-Hari" from Tunis, "Mashaykh Al-Inshad" led by Hassan Saada, and "Al-Bahaa for Sufi Inshad" from Algeria. The nightly program at the municipal theater, starting at 10 PM, will feature Tunisian and Arab stars, including Ziad Gharissa, Egyptian performer Ahmed Al-Omari, and Tunisian performer Oussama Al-Nabli.
The festival's closing ceremony will feature a Zikr and Inshad session at the shrines of Sidi Abi Ali Al-Sani, Sidi Marzouq, and Sidi Hassan Ayad, starting after midnight and continuing until dawn. The festival's director, Nazar Nasr, stated that this year's edition aims to provide a rich and diverse program that respects all Sufi musical styles, blending them with traditional Tunisian music.
The festival also includes intellectual conferences, with the first one presented by researcher Asma Al-Shabi on the topic of religious celebrations in the Jerid region and their relation to spirituality. The second conference will be led by writer and poet Mohamed Bouhouch, discussing the novel "Al-Daqla" and its references to spiritual heritage. The conferences will conclude with a lecture by Dr. Lotfi Issa on the topic of "The Poles of Recovery during the Hilalian, Mahdi, and Al-Dahmani Al-Nafti Invasion."
A traditional crafts exhibition is being held on the sidelines of the festival, featuring around ten artisans from Tozeur and other regions. The exhibition showcases various products, including traditional textiles, palm frond products, jewelry, traditional food, and natural cosmetics. The exhibition aims to promote local products and contribute to the city's economic activity.
The festival's organizers hope to create a cultural and intellectual reference for the region, in addition to its entertainment and artistic aspects. The event is expected to attract a large number of visitors, including tourists and locals, who will participate in the various activities and enjoy the city's hospitality.
Key points
- The festival features a diverse program of Sufi music and spirituality activities.
- The event includes intellectual conferences and traditional crafts exhibitions.
- The festival aims to promote local culture and contribute to the city's economic activity.
