The Saharan city of Douz (Kebili) is the stage for intense activities during the International Festival of the Sahara. Indeed, traditional weddings, camel fights, mehari races, a multitude of conferences and intellectual meetings are to be expected during this event. In addition, exhibitions are also scheduled during the festival emphasizing the ancestral customs of the region.
Indeed, the International Festival of the Sahara is the ideal opportunity to discover the customs and traditions of the Mrazigs. This is the opportunity for the nomadic inhabitants of the desert and the thousands of visitors to admire the dances, discover the local music, or to enjoy the camel and horse races.
Alongside the event, we find exhibitions, a book fair, a date fair, documentary screenings and traditional workshops.
Founded in 1910, the International Festival of the Sahara, allows visitors to discover the “gateway to the great Sahara” through which nomads, travelers and conquerors have transited. This festival has become one of the most prestigious and celebrates Saharan and nomadic culture at the international level, since 1967. This event has become a great celebration of the heritage of the Arab-Berber tribe of Mrazigs.
The four days of the Festival are marked by lively entertainment and intensive activities. We can find music and singing, various performances, dog (“Sloughis”) races , rams and dromedaries fights, traditional and popular games, tributes to great sports champions and scientific and agricultural conferences.
It is an annual event that animates the winter period and that we recommend to experience at least once in a lifetime.