Architecture, the Press and Art - heritage of the Sicilian community in Tunisia - are the main themes on the programme of the 2nd edition of the multidisciplinary cultural event "Matabbia: Sicilians of Tunisia" which will take place from September 29 to October 1, in Tunis. The first edition dedicated to the living heritage of Sicilians in Tunisia took place from August 19 to 21, 2022, in Marsala, Sicily (Italy). The title "Matabbia" refers to the expression of the Tunisian dialect "Mathabbia" which means "I would like to..." and which is adopted by the Sicilians of Tunisia. This new meeting will shed light on the heritage of the Sicilian community settled in Tunisia following the migratory wave of Italians to Tunisia between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. This event will be organized by the Tunisian Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts, Beït al-Hikma, in partnership with the Tunisian National Library (BNT), the Italian Cultural Institute of Tunis (IIC), the Comitato Dante Alighi eri Tunisi , the Maghreb Archeology and Architecture Laboratory. The works will take place on October 29 and 1 at the Beït al-Hikma Academy palace in Carthage and on September 30 at the BNT headquarters in Tunis. The event will be attended by Italian and Tunisian experts, President of Beït al-Hikma Mahmoud Ben Romdhane, Italian Ambassador to Tunisia, Fabrizio Saggio, Director of the IIC, Fabio Ruggirello, Director of the BNT Khaled Kchir, , Art historian and general secretary of the Dante Alighieri Society of Rome Alessandro Masi, President of the Dante Alighieri, Tunis Committee, A.m.i.t. Silvia Finzi, Italian architecture during the colonialism era, the two little Sicilies of Tunis and La Goulette and the Italian architectural imprint in Sfax as well as painting and the presence of Sicilian painters in Tunisia, are on the programme of the conferences to take place in Beit Al hikma. The Academy will also house a photo exhibition by Luca Quattrocchi (University of Siena) and a documentary by Habib Mestiri. Th e Press and the dialect language among the Sicilians of Tunis are on the programme of the BNT which will also host an art gallery of the newspapers II Simpaticuni (1911 -1933) and II Corriere di Tunisi (1956). The ICC will host an exhibition by Silvano Monteleone, Sicilian painter from Tunisia and a theatrical performance «Ciclopu» by actor Gaspare Balsamo. Visits to the National Museum of Carthage and the Medina of Tunis also feature on the «Matabbia» programme.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse