Listen to a music selection of the best Jewish singers from Tunisia
It is through successive diasporas that Jewish culture will gradually take root in the lands of present-day Tunisia. This is how the songs in Arabic and music happily punctuate the celebrations of the Brit Milah (circumcision) weddings and Bar Mitzvah.
And to better blend into the landscape, the greatest singers take Arabic-sounding pseudonyms. Isserène Israel Rozio will become Cheïkh El Afrite, Elie Touitou will be El Kahlaoui Tounsi (Kahlaoui the Tunisian). And as singing is forbidden to Muslim women, the greatest female singers will often be Jewish, like Louisa Tounisia (Louisa the Tunisian), Fritna Darmon, Leyla Sfez or the famous Hbiba Msika, born Margueritte Mskika.
Listen to the radio program : Jewish singers from Tunisia, hosted by Hervé Roten
