The abridged English version of this website is now online. Next will be the Arabic version. In order to make the English version as competent and accessible as possible, we are calling for volunteers to donate their time and talents to the arduous task of translating 760 pages. This task, however, is imperative inasmuch as it will serve to communicate the rich heritage of Kairouan to the Anglophone world. Kairouan World Heritage status was recognized in 1988 by UNESCO, it received the Agha Khan Architecture Award in 1992, and will be the Islamic Culture Capital in 2009.

Several eminent scholars have already helped with this project. May they be warmly thanked.

• Dr. Annette OLSEN FAZI Texas A&M International University
• Dr. Sghaier GUIZANI University of Quebec (Canada)
• Dr. Mounir LOUHAICHI Oregon State University (USA)
• Prof. Chaker ACHOUR Faculté des lettres de Kairouan
• Prof. Ameur JERIDI Institut Supérieur des Etudes Juridiques et Politiques de Kairouan

Description of the website:

The website includes 403 rubrics, 760 pages, and 2,000 copyrighted pictures. Started two years ago, it is regularly updated and enriched. It gets over 30,000 hits a day, and is now the most frequently referenced site concerning the city by principal search engines such as Google, Yahoo, etc. The site has received frequent mention in all areas of the national media (TV, radio, newspapers; see “on parle de nous” for details). The site has received kudos from the Tunisian National Tourism Board (ONTT), the Ministry of Culture, the European Union Delegation to Tunis, the International Francophony Organization, the Embassy of Canada to Tunis, as well as from many intellectuals and university professors working in Tunisia, Europe, and the USA (see “livre d’or” for details). Last but not least, the site has earned recognition from the WSIS (World Summit for the Information Society, Tunis 2005) for its originality as well as the high quality of its conception. In 2007, it won the first Tunisian Best e-Contents Award (e-Culture category).

Goals :

Our aim is to emphasize the history of our town, to promote its principal monuments and sites, and to familiarize the world with its cultural specificity. This specificity includes a unique and ancient culinary, artistic, and scientific identity, as well as rites and traditions that are authentically Kairouanese. Finally, we wish to celebrate resident men and women of renown, and promote local artisan craftsmanship, specifically our famous ecological carpets known as “alloucha.”

Most specifically, we wish to present and preserve the cultural heritage of our town using Ntic, to promote dialogue among different cultures, and to join in the recognition, promotion, and valorization of the cultural heritage of Tunisia throughout the world.

We use simple, straightforward language to explain our culture to those who do not necessarily share that culture and its associated views, but for whom all cultures have equal value. We seek to encourage mutual respect and an observance of equality among cultures, ideals that will hopefully bridge differences, overcome conflicts, and promote positive change.
May this website open fruitful dialogue with all other cultures, and most particularly with those having similar concerns.

How vital are our differences, and how difficult our points of divergence

Passionately Kairouan!
Be proud of it.

Mohamed Rebaï