Musée Ethnographique de Gabès | Gabes

The Gabès Ethnographic Museum (Musée Ethnographique de Gabès), also known as the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions (Musée des Arts et Traditions Populaires de Gabès), is the most important cultural institution in the city of Gabès. It is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the traditional life, crafts, and customs of the Gabès region and its oasis communities. The museum provides deep insights into local identity, covering centuries of social and cultural development.

Here is a detailed overview:

1. Historical Background of the Museum Building

The museum is housed in a historical complex originally built in 1692 during the Muradite period (a dynasty of Ottoman governors in Tunisia).

The structure was once a madrasa (Islamic school), associated with the Sidi Boulbaba religious complex, named after Sidi Boulbaba al-Ansari, the local patron saint of Gabès.

The building complex includes a mosque, student housing (cells), and a small domed sanctuary. It is located in the southern quarter of the city, not far from the oasis gardens.

2. Main Themes and Permanent Exhibits

The museum's exhibits are curated to reflect the life and culture of the oasis communities of southern Tunisia, particularly in and around Gabès. The collections are divided into four main thematic categories:

a) Domestic Life and Traditional Crafts

Demonstrates how people in the oasis organized their households.

Exhibits include:

Traditional weaving looms used to make woolen blankets and clothing.

Everyday kitchenware, storage jars, and ceramic pots.

Hand-carved wooden furniture and utensils.

b) Weddings and Social Rituals

A major highlight of the museum. It showcases:

Wedding garments for both brides and grooms, especially the Berber-style jewelry and woolen cloaks (barnous).

Ceremonial items used during marriage rituals, such as incense burners, henna bowls, musical instruments, and decorative trays.

Replicas of wedding procession scenes, music, and dance customs.

c) Agricultural and Oasis Life

This section focuses on the economy and daily labor of oasis agriculture.

Includes:

Irrigation tools, wooden shadufs (manual water lifters), and palm leaf baskets used for collecting crops.

Explanations of the three-level oasis farming system (palm trees, fruit trees, ground crops).

Beekeeping equipment, olive oil presses, and tools used for date harvesting.

d) Archaeological and Historic Artifacts

Displays remnants from ancient Gabès (Takapes) and surrounding Roman-Berber settlements.

Objects include:

Carved stone capitals

Inscriptions, funerary urns, and pottery fragments

Early Islamic period coins and ceramics

3. Cultural Significance

The museum plays a vital role in preserving the oral traditions, skills, and rituals of the local population, especially as younger generations shift toward modern urban life.

It serves as an educational center for local students and international visitors interested in Tunisia’s southern identity, which combines Arab, Amazigh (Berber), and Islamic traditions.

Some exhibits also represent the Jewish community of Gabès, which existed until the mid-20th century and contributed to local crafts and commerce.

4. Architecture and Setting

The building is a fine example of Ottoman-era religious architecture, adapted for educational and residential use.

Features include:

Arched porticos, courtyards, and domed chambers

A peaceful inner courtyard often used for cultural events

Viewpoints over the nearby Sidi Boulbaba Mosque and cemetery

5. Visiting the Museum

Opening Hours:

Winter: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Summer: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Closed on Mondays

Location: Southern Gabès, within walking distance from the old medina and oasis gardens.

Language: Exhibits are usually labeled in Arabic and French. Guided tours may be available with advance booking.

6. Educational and Cultural Activities

The museum occasionally hosts:

Temporary exhibitions on photography, crafts, and oral history

Workshops on weaving, pottery, and henna art

School programs and lectures about Gabès’ history and environment

7. Preservation Efforts

The museum is managed by the National Heritage Institute of Tunisia, and its preservation is part of national efforts to protect traditional knowledge and architecture.

It is increasingly promoted as part of eco-cultural tourism in Gabès, alongside the oasis and surrounding villages.

The Gabès Museum stands as a living tribute to the oasis civilization of southern Tunisia. It offers visitors not only an academic understanding of local history but also a sensory and emotional immersion into the textures, colors, and stories of a deeply rooted cultural world.