Happy Independence Day Tunisia

“He who is covered with other people's clothes is naked” - Tunisian Proverb

(Tunisia flag (1956-Present))

Tunisia is located in North Africa.

(Map of where Tunisia is located)

Its capital is Tunis. Tunis is also its largest city. The official language is Arabic. The country is 63,170 square miles. Tunisia is 98% Asian (Arab) and 2% African and European. 98% of Tunisia practice Islam while 2% practice Christianity, Judaism, and other religions. The total population is 10,982,754. The climate is mediterranean in the northern part of the country with mild rainy winters and hot, dry summers and the south of the country is desert. Tunisia is a Unitary semi-presidential republic.

(Tunis, Tunisia’s capital)

Tunisian cuisine is spicy and consists of lamb, veal, tuna, squid, lemons, oranges, parsley, cilantro, hazelnuts, almonds, garlic and onions.

(Tunisian cuisine)

The music of Tunisia is called Rachidia.

(People from Tunisia playing Rachidia music)

The most popular sport in Tunisia is soccer. Their national soccer team is called The Eagles of Carthage.

(Tunisia’s soccer team)

The land which is Tunisia now was first inhabited around 5000 B.C. by the Berbers.

(A Berber man)

The coast of Tunisia was settled by  Phoenicians in the 12th century B.C. The city of Carthage was founded in the 9th century B.C. by the Phoenicians.

(A painting of the Phoenicians)

In the 5th century the city of Carthage became the dominant civilization in the Western Mediterranean. The army of Carthage led by Hannibal Barca invaded Italy during the 2nd Punic War.

(A painting of Hannibal Barca)

In 149 B.C. Carthage was conquered by the Roman Empire. Under Roman rule Carthage’s economy boosted. In the early 8th century Arabs conquered the land. They founded the 1st Islamic city in North Africa called Kairouan. The Aghlabid Dynasty ruled Tunisia from 800 to 909. There was prosperity in Tunisia under this rule. In 972 the Zirids took control of Tunisia. In the 12th century the Normans of Sicily took control of Tunisia. The Almohads then rules Tunisia in 1160. There was a lot of chaos during their rule of Tunisia. In the late 16th century the coast of Tunisia became a stronghold for pirates. In 1534 the Ottoman Empire took control of Tunisia. In 1869 Tunisia declared itself bankrupt. In 1881 the French took over Tunisia.

(Tunisian flag (1881-1956))

The number of French and Italians grew in Tunisia. During World War II there was multiple battles between the allies and axis forces. On March 20th 1956 Tunisia declared its independence from France.

(Tunisian flag (1956-Present))

Habib Bourguiba became the 1st Tunisian president.

(Habib Bourguiba)

In 1987 Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali assumed the presidency due to Bourguiba being unfit to rule. In 2008 in terms of freedom of press Tunisia was declared 143rd out of 173. In 2011 began the Tunisian Revolution. There were mass protests and demonstrations against the government.

(Protests in Tunisia)

In 2015 Tunisia was hit by 2 terrorist attacks killing 60 people.

(News coverage of the attacks)

Today marks the 61st anniversary of Tunisia’s independence and we would like to say happy independence day Tunisia.

Videos of Tunisia Independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44eLoHcn97g  “Tunisia marks independence day in defiance of attacks”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ezIeaElxg  “Tunisian Cultural Performance”