Kebili

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Kebili ڨبلي
Entrance of the Kebili town
Kebili
Coordinates: 33°42′18″N 08°57′54″E / 33.70500°N 8.96500°E / 33.70500; 8.96500Coordinates: 33°42′18″N 08°57′54″E / 33.70500°N 8.96500°E / 33.70500; 8.96500
Country	Tunisia
Governorates	Kebili
Population  (2014)
• Total	28,081
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Kebili (Arabic: ڨبلي‎ Gbillī) is a town in the south of Tunisia and one of the main cities in the Nefzaoua region. It is located south of Tunisia. It is the capital of the Kebili Governorate.

History[]

Kebili is one of the oldest oases in Tunisia and North Africa. It holds the earliest hard evidence of human habitation in Tunisia (found near the town) and dates back about 200,000 years.^[1] Kebili, along with many other Tunisian cities, became part of the Roman Empire after the Punic Wars.

Demographics[]

Kebili's population is more diverse compared to other Tunisian governorates. The population traces its roots to three main groups:

• Berbers: The native inhabitants of Tunisia and North Africa.
• Arabs: They came to Kebili in the early days of the Muslim conquest. Most came from the Southern Arabian Peninsula (modern day Saudi Arabia and Yemen). They still hold the tribal names of their ancestors.
• Black Africans: They were brought to the city when it was a slavery trade center. See the Economy section below.

Language and religion[]

While Arabic is the dominant language in the region, several differences set it apart from the Tunisian Arabic spoken elsewhere in the country. Most notably, the letter qāf ق is pronounced as a [g] rather than the guttural [q]. Additionally, some villages use the feminine plural pronouns antunna أنتن (plural you) and hunna هن (they). These pronouns are very rare throughout the Arab world and are usually replaced by their masculine counterparts antum أنتم and hum هم. Bedouin vocabulary and expressions have declined in usage among the new generations.

Islam is the dominant religion. Kebili, as many other Tunisian towns, holds a great number of Soofiat Maqams (Saleheen).^{[citation needed]}

Economy[]

The economy of Kebili has seen diverse orientations throughout its history. Kebili was one of the main hubs of the African slavery trade to satisfy European needs. Slaves were taken to Europe through the port of Gabès. Nowadays, Kebili relies heavily on agriculture and tourism.

Agriculture[]

The main agricultural product in the region are dates or "deglets". Kebili produces a very high quality date, exported all around the world and contributing significantly to the local and national economy.

Tourism[]

Since national independence, the government of Tunisia has encouraged tourism projects and resorts in the Saharan region. Of these Douz, south of Kebili, is the most famous Saharian destination of Tunisia (known as the Sahara Gate).

Climate[]

Temperature records have been kept here from 1901–1939, 1949–1953, and 2000–2012. The French colonial authorities of the Service météorologique de Tunis maintained the older records. A portion of the original data logs for this early period is in the NCDC archives and at the POR of 1907 to 1932. Like Azizia, Kebili is subject to the foehn-like wind phenomena known as a Ghibili.

The World Meteorological Organization cites Kebili as having recorded the highest temperature ever recorded in Africa.^[2]

Notable people[]

• Hend Sabry (born 1979), Tunisian actress, lawyer and ambassador to the World Food Programme
• Fahmi Blidaoui [1] (born 1988), Tunisian journalist, and director of radio nefzawa

References[]

Notes[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kebili.

• Lexicorient
• Kebili Guide
• Collection of photos