Analysis of the Douz Festival: to Feel the Spirit of Sahara

Camelback riding, rabbit hunting, storytelling and Bedouin wedding ceremonies all mark a specific type of nomadic lifestyle. The small town of Douz in Tunisia also considered the 'gateway to the great Sahara' where many nomads have passed, has turned the nomadic lifestyle into an international Spectacle. Since its founding in the 1910, the international Festival of the Sahara, formerly known as the camel festival, has become a must-see event, for those who wish to sample the Sahara spirit.

The town of Douz is an oasis where it is said that Palm trees outnumber the inhabitants, 25 to 1, and each year in the end of December it welcomes close to 50,000 people, mostly from North Africa, to celebrate the art and Traditions of the Desert People. For four days Guests are treated to a multitude of events that allow them to revel in the life of the desert inhabitants.

When the festival was started in 1910 by the French rulers for the sole purpose of camelback riding on the desert it was because the sport had become a favorite pass time for them. But after Tunisia attained independence in 1956, the locals decided to maintain the festival as part of their heritage and celebrated it as the Camel Festival for 11 more years. In 1967, the then Tunisian president Habib Bourguiba modified the festival to be more relevant to the Tunisian society to depict and preserve its traditional culture. Even though the camelback riding was still a part of the festival, the festival was renamed to the Festival of the Sahara.

The first day of the festival hosts a colorful opening ceremony where locals and people from neighboring countries come together to show off their camels and donkeys in a riveting competition where the audience is made to cheer them on. The ceremony is also graced with traditional dancers and musicians including children in groups who perform to cheering participants.

The event goes on for 3 more days with enchanting music and feats of dare and dexterity accompanied by vibrant costumes, belly dancers, and acrobatics that will captivate audiences. One of the favorite performances include the “hair dance” of beautiful long tressed ladies thrashing their long hair into the sand to driving percussion and drums.

During the festival, visitors camp close to venues that are well protected, and they can partake in specific riding competitions and are presented with decadent choices of a wide variety of local food and drinks to try to have a taste of nomadic life. The other events that guests can participate in and enjoy including horse racing, camel fights and rabbit chases, greyhound races, traditional poetry, music and fantasias as well as public marriages.

The festival pays homage to the spirit of the Sahara, specifically to the Arab-Berber tribe of M’razigs (Marzougui) drawing in performers and audiences from all across North Africa. The event is held to coincide with harvest dates, so it features a large market selling hundreds of traditional food produce and craft. The oasis coming to life by the sea of the white turbans, vendors and the chatter of bartering filling the beautifully decorated square especially for this event is a sight that should not be missed.

The festival has become a very important celebration for Northern Africans but due to the cultural differences with other Africans, it has not been able to attract other Africans into its celebration. The 52nd edition of the Festival of the Sahara in 2019 was held between December 19 and 22 and drew out over 50,000 people. It is safe to say the festival is one of Tunisia’s top media event drawing in huge revenue for the country.