- Nafta, Tunisia
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- For other uses, particularly as acronyms for two international trade treaties, see Nafta (disambiguation).
Nefta
Nefta— Oasis Town — Nefta Nickname(s): Kairouan of the South Coordinates: 33°53′N 7°53′E / 33.883°N 7.883°ECoordinates: 33°53′N 7°53′E / 33.883°N 7.883°E Country Tunisia Elevation 55 m (180 ft) Time zone CET Nefta (or Nefta; 33°53′N 7°53′E / 33.883°N 7.883°E) is a town and oasis in Tunisia, close to the Algerian border, and just north of the Chott el Djerid.[1]
Contents
Religious significance
Nefta is considered by most Sufis to be the spiritual home of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam; many religious buildings are located in the district El Bayadha. 10 miles past Nefta, towards Algeria, is a daily market that sells Tunisian "desert roses", crystalline formations of rock that resemble roses in shape.
Nefta is a pilgrimage center to which pilgrims travel throughout the year. There is a Folk Festival in April and a Date Festival in November/December.
Nefta is the religious center of the Bled el Djerid, the "Land of Palms", with more than 24 mosques and 100 marabouts. The marabouts still attract pilgrims from all over southern Tunisia and even from Algeria. This great veneration of the marabouts reflects the continuing vigor of Sufism, the movement which grew up in the 12th century around Sufi Abu Madian (d. 1197). The name of the Sufis came from the simple woolen garment (suf) they wore. They believed that the adherents of Islam, a religion of the desert, should show particular modesty of behavior and asceticism, and were much given to mysticism, the veneration of holy men, spiritual contemplation and meditation. Sufism is also marked by religious forms taken over from the pre-Islamic, animistic religions of the Berber population which orthodox Islam seeks to repress - belief in spirits, witchcraft, fortune-telling, the efficacy of amulets, etc. Regional variants of Sufism were propagated by holy men, who frequently founded their own brotherhoods, with centers for the teaching of disciples. They are credited with numerous miracles and revered for their holiness, and their tombs (marabouts) are places of pilgrimage, attracting varying numbers of pilgrims according to their reputation. In the past these holy men were also appealed to as judges in the conflicts which frequently occurred between the nomadic tribes and the settled population of the oases. Nefta is the last stronghold of this Sufism, and is sometimes called, with some justification, the "Kairouan of the South". The marabouts venerated here are scattered about throughout the old town of Nefta and the oasis.
The town
Nefta is divided into two parts by a small oued and a depression at its northern end. To the east of the oued is the new town, with the old souk quarter at its southwestern corner; to the west, on the slopes of a hill, is the old town. The main road from Tozeur runs through the new town as Avenue Habib Bourguiba, which then crosses the oued and skirts the old town. At its western end a street branches off on the right, ascends the hill, goes round the old town and the sand-bowl, and returns to Avenue Habib Bourguiba. Nefta is a town of cube-shaped, flat-roofed houses huddled closely together, with Tozeur-style decoration. In some of the streets the upper stories of the houses, borne on round- headed arches, project over the street, forming a kind of tunnel which offers protection from the sun. It is planned to restore the old town in the very near future.
History
The history of Nefta reaches far back into the past. It is believed to have been settled originally by shepherds who came from the kingdom of Napata. The Romans and later the Byzantines built forts in the oasis (Nepte) to provide protection against raids by desert nomads. In Byzantine times Nefta and Tozeur were Episcopal Sees. In the mid-7th century Nefta was conquered by the Arabs and, in spite of fierce resistance, converted to Islam. In subsequent centuries it prospered as an important staging-point for caravans (for a time the most important in Tunisia). Its decline began in the 15th century as a result of more frequent raids by nomadic tribes and the general falling off in the caravan trade. With the coming of the French in 1881, however, Nefta experienced a renewal.
Access
Nefta lies on GP 3 (Gafsa-Nefta), 25 km/16 mi southwest of Tozeur (airport; regular services to and from Tunis, Monastir, and Djerba) and 113 km/70 mi southwest of Gafsa. From the bus station (Gare Routière) in Avenue Habib Bourguiba, there are regular bus services to Tozeur and Gafsa and a once-daily service to Douz and Hazaoua, the frontier post for the crossing into Algeria. The 4 km/2.5 mi from there to the frontier must be done either on foot or in a louage (communal taxi). From the Algerian frontier post there are buses to El Oued.
References
- ^ Nefta Four hundred kilometres southwest of the Tunisian capital of Tunis at travelvideostore.com
External links
- NEFTA: Oasis of many tombs at lexicorient.com
Communes of Tunisia
Ariana Governorate: (Aryanah) · Ettadhamen-Mnihla · Kalâat el-Andalous · Raoued · Sidi Thabet · La Soukra · Béja Governorate: (Béja) · El Maâgoula · Goubellat · Medjez el-Bab · Nefza · Téboursouk · Testour · Zahret Mediou · Ben Arous Governorate: (Ben Arous) · Bou Mhel el-Bassatine · El Mourouj · Ezzahra · Hammam Chott · Hammam Lif · Khalidia · Mégrine · Mohamedia-Fouchana · Mornag · Radès · Bizerte Governorate (Bizerte) · Aousja · El Alia · Ghar El Melh · Mateur · Menzel Bourguiba · Menzel Jemil · Menzel Abderrahmane · Metline · Raf Raf · Ras Jebel · Sejenane · Tinja · Gabès Governorate: (Gabès) · Chenini Nahal · El Hamma · Ghannouch · Mareth · Matmata · Métouia · Nouvelle Matmata · Oudhref · Zarat · Gafsa Governorate: (Gafsa) · El Guettar · El Ksar · Mdhila · Métlaoui · Moularès · Redeyef · Sened · Jendouba Governorate: (Jendouba) · Aïn Draham · Beni M'Tir · Bou Salem · Fernana · Ghardimaou · Oued Melliz · Tabarka · Kairouan Governorate: (Kairouan) · Aïn Djeloula · Alaâ · Bou Hajla · Chebika · Echrarda · Oueslatia · Haffouz · Hajeb El Ayoun · Menzel Mehiri · Nasrallah · Sbikha · Kasserine Governorate: ( Kasserine) · Fériana · Foussana · Haïdra · Jedelienne · Magel Bel Abbès · Sbeïtla · Sbiba · Thala · Thélepte · Kébili Governorate: (Kébili) · Douz · El Golâa · Djemna · Souk Lahad · Kef Governorate: (Le Kef) · Dahmani · Jérissa · El Ksour · Kalaat Senan · Kalâat Khasba · Menzel Salem · Nebeur · Sakiet Sidi Youssef · Sers · Tajerouine · Touiref · Mahdia Governorate: (Mahdia) · Bou Merdes · Chebba · Chorbane · El Bradâa · El Jem · Essouassi · Hebira · Hiboun · Kerker · Ksour Essef · Melloulèche · Ouled Chamekh · Rejiche · Sidi Alouane · Manouba Governorate: (La Manouba) · Borj El Amri · Den Den · Douar Hicher · Djedeida · El Battan · Oued Ellil · Mornaguia · Tebourba · Médenine Governorate (Médenine) · Ajim · Ben Gardane · Beni Khedache · Houmt Souk · Midoun · Zarzis · Monastir Governorate: (Monastir) · Amiret El Fhoul · Amiret El Hojjaj · Amiret Touazra · Bekalta · Bembla · Beni Hassen · Bennane · Bouhjar · Cherahil · El Masdour · Ghenada · Jemmal · Khniss · Ksar Hellal · Ksibet el-Médiouni · Lamta · Menzel Ennour · Menzel Farsi · Menzel Hayet · Menzel Kamel · Moknine · Ouerdanin · Nabeul Governorate: (Nabeul) · Azmour · Béni Khalled · Béni Khiar · Bou Argoub · Dar Allouch · Dar Chaabane · El Haouaria · El Maâmoura · El Mida · Grombalia · Hammam Ghezèze · Hammamet · Kélibia · Kerkouane · Korba · Korbous · Menzel Bouzelfa · Menzel Horr · Menzel Temime · Soliman · Somâa · Takelsa · Tazerka · Zaouiet Djedidi · Sfax Governorate: (Sfax) · Agareb · Bir Ali Ben Khélifa · Bir Salah · Chihia · El Aïn · Graïba · Gremda · Jebiniana · Kerkennah · El Hencha · Mahrès · Menzel Chaker · Sakiet Eddaïer · Sakiet Ezzit · Skhira · Thyna · Sidi Bouzid Governorate (Sidi Bouzid) · Bir El Hafey · Cebbala Ouled Asker · Jilma · Menzel Bouzaiane · Meknassy · Mezzouna · Ouled Haffouz · Regueb · Sidi Ali Ben Aoun · Siliana Governorate: (Siliana) · Bargou · Bou Arada · El Aroussa · El Krib · Gaâfour · Kesra · Makthar · Rouhia · Sidi Bou Rouis · Sousse Governorate (Sousse) · Akouda · Bouficha · Enfida · Ezzouhour · Hammam Sousse · Hergla · Kalâa Kebira · Kalâa Seghira · Kondar · Ksibet Thrayet · Messaadine · M'saken · Sidi Bou Ali · Sidi El Hani · Zaouiet Sousse · Tataouine Governorate (Tataouine) · Bir Lahmar · Dehiba · Ghomrassen · Remada · Tozeur Governorate (Tozeur) · Degache · El Hamma du Jérid · Nefta · Tamerza · Tunis Governorate (Tunis) · Carthage · La Goulette · La Marsa · Le Bardo · Le Kram · Sidi Bou Saïd · Sidi Hassine ·
Zaghouan Governorate (Zaghouan) · El Fahs · Djebel Oust · Bir Mcherga · Nadhour · ZribaCategories:- Oases of Tunisia
- Populated places in Tozeur Governorate
- Communes of Tunisia
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