Tunisia's cultural policy has long been praised as an exemplary model designed to suit its unique cultural context.
Following independence, under President Habib Bourguiba’s leadership, the Tunisian government emphasized advancing this cultural initiative. The government aimed to establish a vibrant cultural framework that would promote social cohesion and support Tunisian arts. The policy sought to ensure that all Tunisians, regardless of social status, had universal access to culture and cultural practices, with the goal of fostering unity and contributing to the development of a modern Tunisian state. Tunisia’s cultural policy emerged as a promising initiative in the post-independence era, highlighting the interplay between culture and its institutionalization. The establishment of the Ministry of Culture played a crucial role in coordinating cultural activities within Tunisian society, with the overarching objective of organizing various cultural domains such as music, theater, archives, and cinema and formulating regulations to streamline their operation. Additionally, the policy aimed to invigorate cultural activities within Tunisian society, with a specific focus on fostering coexistence and laying the groundwork for peace among Tunisians. A key aspect was developing a modern state, anchoring identity values, and enriching Tunisia’s cultural landscape through the ministry’s oversight of cultural pursuits.
Since achieving independence in 1956, Tunisia has consistently pursued a forward-looking cultural policy aimed at preserving its unique identity, fostering social unity, and promoting peaceful coexistence… a policy is intended to underscore Tunisia's rich cultural heritage within the African context and its alignment with the MENA region.
Alla El Kahla, Ph.D
Vice Chancellor
Alla El Kahla, Ph.D., is an ethnomusicology, cultural policy, and social sciences scholar specializing in the WANA/MENA region. El Kahla earned a doctorate in musicology from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), Germany. In addition to being a dedicated researcher, El Kahla is a violinist and a performing artist. Serving as the liaison officer for Tunisia in the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD), El Kahla’s research primarily centers around heritage production, creative cultural industries, and local development in the WANA/MENA region. El Kahla is keenly interested in postcolonial studies, cultural policy, and theoretical and methodological reflection challenges.
Iyadh El Kahla, Ph.Dz
Vice Chancellor
Iyadh El Kahla is a young scholar specializing in social sciences and cultural studies. He is currently pursuing a Cotutelle “Joint Doctorate” in cultural policy and Art mediation at the University of Hildesheim in collaboration with Aix-Marseille University. In addition to his studies, Iyadh serves as an academic assistant and regional coordinator of the DAAD-funded ‘[Tawasol] Cultural Production and Policy Network,’ which focuses on the role of the arts in society. His research focuses on the cultural policy landscape in Tunisia after the 2011 revolution, with a particular emphasis on emerging alternative cultural phenomena. Furthermore, his academic interests extend to the historical context of the MENA region and the complex theoretical aspects involved in crafting cultural policies during transitional political periods.
Photos: Inside Rachidia school, photo taken by Alla El kahla. Tunisian weaver, photo by Tourzrimounir. Tunisian pottery store, photo by Mirou. Théâtre Municipal de Tunis. The building sign of the Rachidia School, photo taken by Alla El kahla. The logo of the Tunisian Ministry of Culture, the key player in implementing cultural policies in the country. Photo by /ween.tn/fiche/ministere-de-la-culture/ar. Images provided for use by the author or under Creative Commons or the public domain.