24 September 11, 2016 Travel www.thearabweekly.com

Agenda

Dubai: Through September 16th

The Dubai International Dance Festival is a multi-arts event that has a reputation for attracting well- known dance companies, classical dance academies, youth orchestras, bands and music ensembles from around the world. The festival is a catalyst for the creation of new works and creative activities, with an education programme and artistic collaborations involving or- ganisations throughout the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and the rest of the world.

Marrakech: September 16th-18th

The Oasis Music Festival celebrates electronic music. In its second year, the festival takes place at the Source Music Resort in Mar- rakech and includes three days of Fishing boats moored along the coast of the Tunisian island of Kerkennah. performances from international electronic musicians such as David August, Omar Souleyman and Prins Thomas.

Kerkennah, the islands where Dubai: September 16th-24th

Cirque Du Soleil returns to Dubai inhabitants own parts of the sea with a new concept called Varekai, which means “wherever”. The Roua Khlifi acrobatic performances take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Kerkennah Tangier: September 22nd-25th wenty kilometres off the coast of the Tunisian The 17th Tangier’s Jazz Festival town of is the only hosts renowned international and place on Earth where or- local jazz artists for one of Mo- dinary people can own rocco’s premier cultural events. Tparts of the sea: the islands of Kerk- Festival guests have the opportu- ennah. nity to attend free street perfor- The sea under the small islands is mances, free dance courses and owned mostly by fishermen, due to jazz concerts. their fishing methods that require them to set traps in designated London: parts of the water. October 21st-November 6th Kerkennah — or Cercina, as it was called by the Phoenicians — is The Nour Festival of Arts highlights steeped in history and contains the best contemporary Middle traces of various civilisations. An Eastern and North African arts and hour away by ferry from Sfax, culture each October and Novem- Kerkennah includes five islands ber in venues across Kensington first settled in Phoenician times. and Chelsea in London. The festival During the , the programme features exhibitions, served as a lo- music, cinema, food, talks and cation to watch over the sea and dance performances. Kerkennah Folkloric Troupe became known as the place Sem- (Kerkennah Direct Facebook page) pronius Gracchus, a lover of Julia, Abu Simbel, Egypt: the daughter of Emperor Augustus, October 22nd was exiled to. Kerkennah also was the home of la- researcher of history and founder alive, which is why the fishermen The islands of Kerkennah are bour union leaders such as Farhat of the museum. use traps. Using a fishing net, they Twice a year during the Abu Simbel rich with Roman ruins, most nota- Hached, who campaigned against Built in the style of a traditional locate the right spots for the high Sun Festival, people gather at the bly the towers and the old port on French rule during the 20th cen- house, the museum takes visitors tides. Where there is a circle, a ba- Abu Simbel temple, built along the eastern side of the islands. Still tury. from one room to another, each ex- sin is created. The fish enters and the banks of the Nile by Pharaoh intact, the towers are open for visi- Kerkennah boasts the Museum ploring a different aspect of island then it is trapped there until the Ramses II in the 13th century BC, tors to explore. In addition to his- of the Insular Patrimony of Ab- life. Visitors see fishing nets that trap is pulled up by the fisherman,” to see the sunrise provide a unique tory and culture, visitors can enjoy basia, which showcases the his- were made by family members and Fehri explained. “The second show. The temple is situated so that walks on the beach and the sea tory and traditions of the islands. stored in their homes. method is to install fishing nets in twice a year — during February and view from restaurants and hotels Opened in 2006, the museum also Other parts of the museum are the water, make noise in the wa- October — on the anniversaries of in the tourist zone of Sidi Fredj. functions as a research centre for dedicated to daily life and wedding ter to catch the jumping fish in the the birth and coronation of Ramses In more modern times, the is- Mediterranean studies. traditions, including the signature nets. The point is to keep the fish II, the sun lights up an internal lands played an important role dur- “The museum focuses on the drums of the islands: Drummers alive until taken out of the water.” chamber. After viewing statues ing the country’s struggle against ethnographic aspect of the daily and trumpet players perform in of Ramses and Queen Nefertari, colonialism. , life of the inhabitants of the islands front of acrobatic dancers while Kerkennah — or visitors celebrate by enjoying food ’s first president, sought [during] the different phases of its singing and chanting traditional as well as the dance and singing shelter on the islands when he was history from ancient to modern,” songs of the islands. Cercina, as it programmes arranged by local wanted by French colonial officials. said Abdelhamid Fehri, university “Everything is built using the was called by the residents. original materials of the locals. We tried to create a small microcosm of Phoenicians — is : island life,” said Fehri. steeped in history. October 28th-November 5th Fehri said ownership of the sea dates to the 15th and 16th centu- The islands also are known for The Film Festival is an an- ries. Documents from that time re- octopus fishing and residents or- nual festival that showcases films port that locals complained to the ganise an annual octopus festival from the Maghreb, Africa and the Bey of Tunis about mainlanders in the spring. The festival includes Middle East. In its 27th edition the trying to steal their sea. The bey is- folk shows and cooking competi- festival will take place in Tunis and sued a decree allowing Kerkennah tions for the best octopus dish. other regions of Tunisia over eight islanders to own land under the “Kerkennah is a virgin land for days. A parallel programme will sea. those seeking peace and sooth- include world cinema projections, “Starting at that point, locals be- ing quiet. People who like scenery seminars, debates and meetings. came able to register the parts of that is untouched by modernity The 2016 festival will celebrate the the sea where they set their fish- will enjoy their time here,” Fehri 50th anniversary of the event’s ing traps as owned by them,” Fehri said. “Kerkennah is an oasis cov- founding in 1966. said. “The documents are known ering 140 square kilometres with as honorary ownership contracts.” over 60% oasis, a unique case in We welcome submissions of The fishermen in Kerkennah use the Mediterranean. The fish, the calendar items related to unique fishing technique called grapes and the figs are all part of cultural events of interest to charfia, consisting of a net sown the wealth that is to be discovered.” travellers in the Middle East by hand in a circular shape. Charfia and North Africa. nets are displayed in the museum. Roua Khlifiis a regular Travel and Designated fishing traps in the island of Kerkennah. “For a good captain or fisher- Culture contributor to The Arab Please send tips to: (Kerkennah Direct Facebook page) man, the fish has to be caught Weekly. She is based in Tunis. [email protected]