TUNISIA

• El Kef is rarely on the list of tours organised for international visitors who flock to Tunisia every year to enjoy sunny beaches and local culture.
• Tunisia has not recognised the value of El Kef’s historical and cultural diversity, nor promoted the region as an international heritage asset.

The city

• It has its origins as an ancient Numidian city before it became Roman and Byzantine colonies, beginning in 241BC.
• The city was home to renowned Sufi saint Sidi Bou Makhlouf.
• Serving as a hub for Tunisian theatrical arts, the city cultivates a blend of tangible and intangible heritage.

The Plateau of Jugurtha

• The Plateau of Jugurtha (Jugurta), 70km south of El Kef, is an important natural heritage site, covering 80 hectares and at an altitude of 1,200 metres.
• It is a mesa (flat-topped mountain) that has been linked to many legends.
• The mountain is said to have stopped the Romans in their long war with King Jugurta of Numidia.
• The Kingdom of Numidia emerged around the 3rd century BC in modern-day Algeria and parts of Tunisia and Libya.

Jerissa

• The town of Jerissa is to be found 50km south of El Kef.
• Jerissa was once known as Petit Paris (Little Paris), a name favoured by the French colonials.
• Today Jerissa is all but forgotten despite its rich history.

What should be done

• An official development plan for the sites described here – and many more besides – is much needed.
• Protecting the diverse and rich heritage of El Kef would boost the cultural, economic, social and environmental qualities of the region.

Majdi Faleh received a small fund from the Fulbright Alumni Development Grant (ADG) to support this project. Asma Gharbi is affiliated with Engage North Africa Nourchen Ben Fatma does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.