History of Music in Tunisia

Tunisia is located in the North Africa country with a dominantly Arabic-speaking populace. The country is best recognized for malouf, a type of music originated from Andalusia after the Spanish dominate in the 15^th century. However in its current type, malouf is likely very different of the music performed more than four centuries ago, and this have its origins in Spain and Portugal, and is closely associated to genres with a similar record all over the North Africa, which include the malouf’s Libyan cousin, Algerian gharnati and Moroccan ala or Andalusi. In the time the Ottoman era, malouf was highly influenced from the Turkish music, even today most of the malouf for instances are very similar to that of the Turkish classical music.

source of picture: www.tunisia-tourism.org

The 20^th century artists from Tunisia such as Jasser Haj Youssef, a composer and a violin player, Anouar Brahem, an oud player and El Azifet, a rare all-female group, as well as popular vocalist known as Raoul Journo, singer and oud player, Dhafer Youssef, singers, guitarists and lutenists are Nabil Khemir, Lotfi Bouchnak, Khemais Tarnane, Ali Riahhi, Neema, Saliha, Hedo Jouini, Saleh Mehdi, Oulaya, Fethia Khairi and Chikh El Ofrit.

Famous singers include the following such as Saber el Robbai, Latifa, Amina, Amina Fakhet, Nawal Ghachem, Nabiha Karaouli, Sonia Mbarek, Soufia Sedik and the late Thekra.

Also in the 21^st century alternative music orchestras include the following such as Aspirine, Checkpoint 303, Neshez, Kerkennah and Zemeken.

Current music festivals in Tunisia include the following such as Tabarka jazz festival, Sahara Festival in Douz, and Testour’s Arab Andalusian Music Festival