This is a recording from inside the medina of the picturesque town of Nefta, a sacred religious territory where, out of respect for the religion, many mosques can only be admired from the outside. The marabouts in Nefta continue to attract pilgrims from all over southern Tunisia and even from Algeria. This widespread veneration of the marabouts reflects the enduring strength of Sufism, a movement that originated in the 12th century around Sufi Abu Madian.

According to Sufi beliefs, followers of Islam, a religion rooted in the desert, should exhibit particular modesty of behavior and asceticism. They were deeply inclined toward mysticism, the veneration of holy men, as well as spiritual contemplation and meditation.

This recording captures the essence of the religious and cultural significance of Nefta, portraying its unique blend of history, spirituality, and tradition.

Recorded by Rafael Diogo.

Part of the Migration Sounds project, the world’s first collection of the sounds of human migration. 

For more information and to explore the project, see https://www.citiesandmemory.com/migration