Heirs of Carthage, Echoes of Andalusia: Exploring the Mosaic Culture of Tunisia

By Kwadwo Afrifa – December 7, 2025 15:00

Our expansive journey through Africa’s diverse cultures brings us to the northernmost tip of the continent, to Tunisia.¹ Standing as a sentinel over the Mediterranean, Tunisia is a land of profound historical stratification. It is where the Phoenician queen Dido founded Carthage, where Rome cemented its African empire, and where refugees from Andalusia reshaped the aesthetic of the coast. Here, we delve into the Amazigh (Berber) traditions of the arid south, the Carthaginian and Roman legacy that underpins national identity, and the Arab-Andalusian culture that painted the northern towns in blue and white.

Tunisia’s culture is a palimpsest—a manuscript written over again and again.² While modern Tunisia is Arab-Muslim, it rests visibly on foundations laid by Punics, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans.

The Amazigh South: Living in the Earth

While the north looks toward the Mediterranean, the south looks toward the Sahara. Here, the indigenous Amazigh people developed unique adaptations to the scorching environment, distinct from their mountain-dwelling cousins in Morocco.

• Troglodyte Architecture: In the Matmata region, the Amazigh created a distinctive subterranean architecture. Instead of building up, they dug down. These troglodyte dwellings consist of a large central circular courtyard dug vertically into the sandstone, with rooms tunneled into the sides. This design keeps the home cool in summer and warm in winter, a brilliant adaptation to the desert climate that gained global fame as the filming location for Luke Skywalker’s home in Star Wars.
• Ksour (Granaries): In the region of Tataouine, the landscape is dotted with Ksour (singular Ksar). These are fortified hilltop granaries made of stacked, vaulted cells (ghorfas) used by semi-nomadic tribes to store grain and olive oil safely.³ They stand as monuments to a history of resource management and tribal defense.

The Weight of History: Carthage and the Bardo

Tunisians possess a deep consciousness of their ancient pre-Islamic history, viewing themselves as the heirs of Carthage.

• The Punic Legacy: The ruins of Carthage in the suburbs of Tunis are a reminder of the superpower that once challenged Rome.⁴ Figures like Hannibal are celebrated as national heroes, symbolizing strategic brilliance and resistance.
• The Art of Mosaics: Following the fall of Carthage, “Africa Proconsularis” became the breadbasket of Rome.⁵ This era left behind the world’s finest collection of Roman mosaics, housed in the Bardo Museum.⁶ These intricate floor artworks depict daily life, mythology, and agriculture, serving as a visual archive of the country’s ancient agrarian roots.

The Andalusian Coast: Blue Doors and Malouf

Following the Reconquista in Spain (15th–17th centuries), waves of Muslim and Jewish refugees (Andalusians) fled to Tunisia, profoundly shaping its urban culture, architecture, and music.⁷

• Architectural Aesthetic: The iconic blue-and-white architecture of towns like Sidi Bou Said is a direct legacy of this migration. The studded doors, intricate tile work (zellige), and wrought-iron window grills (mushrabiya) reflect the synthesis of North African and Spanish styles.
• Malouf Music: The soul of traditional Tunisian music is Malouf. Derived from the Arabic word for “familiar” or “customary,” it is a classical tradition of Arab-Andalusian music characterized by the oud, violin, and kanun. It is considered a high art form, preserving the poetic stanzas (muwashshah) brought over from Seville and Granada.

The Jasmine Spirit

In modern times, the Jasmine flower has become the symbol of the nation—representing gentleness, hospitality, and, in 2011, the revolution that sparked the Arab Spring. It encapsulates the Tunisian temperament: a blend of Mediterranean openness and North African resilience.

Our next article will take us to the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda. We will explore the sophisticated traditions of the Buganda Kingdom, known for its royal tombs and bark cloth, and the pastoralist Bahima people.

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References:

• Brett, M., & Fentress, E. (1996). The Berbers.⁸ Blackwell. (Provides context on the distinct Amazigh adaptations in the Tunisian south).
• Davis, R. (2004). Christian Slaves, Muslim Masters: White Slavery in the Mediterranean, the Barbary Coast and Italy, 1500–1800.⁹ Palgrave Macmillan. (Offers historical context on the varied demographics of the Tunisian coast).
• Perkins, K. J. (2014). A History of Modern Tunisia. Cambridge University Press. (The standard text on the evolution of Tunisian national identity).

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