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Book Title: Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yadali. On the History of Mauritania
Three Unpublished Texts. Prepared and presented by Muhammadun Uld Babbah
Topic: History
Size: 16x24
Number of pages: 228
Language: Arabic
Publication Date: 1990
Price: 5.800 TND |
What we have here is a collection of texts about the history of Mauritania, which have remained virtually unknown, like much of the heritage of this country, still going astray either through neglect or other factors. These are three epistles revealing the very foundations of all the cultural and civilizational development that has led to the renaissance of modern day Mauretania.
The first letter deals with the characters of the members of the Zaouias. The author, Al-Yadali, recounts the story of their lives, according to his own conception of the philosophy of history. Their main quality is their commitment to the "Sunna" of the Prophet, around which they established a political, religious and moral pact.
The second text makes reference to the personality of Imam Nacer Eddine, portrayed as a holy man and political leader. The author emphasizes the spiritual side of this personality and his ability to generate the spirit of solidarity among his companions.
In the third letter entitled "Letter of Counseling", the author addresses the social issues of the Mauritanian society, which he views critically. It is an inexhaustible lesson on the command of good deeds and the prohibition of sin, following the example of the Tchemass scholars and eminent personalities, who have always been a model of conduct for the Zaouias.
I.S.B.N: 9973-911-47-4
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Book Title: The State and the Issue of Culture in Morocco
Author: Moncef Ouanna Topic: Culture
Size: 16x24
Number of pages: 278
Language: Arabic
Publication Date: 1991
Price: 6.500 TND |
It is political independence that has created the necessary conditions for a genuine cultural renaissance and upheld the establishment of the historical identity of the Kingdom of Morocco. Concrete measures, within the limits of the economic and material potentialities available were taken in order to boost this dynamics of cultural development. These efforts reflect a keen desire, a deep understanding of history and an exceptional genius.
Cultural action in Morocco has left a clear imprint on the Moroccan inner society. It has been possible to reconcile tradition and modernity, and new opportunities for creative research have been opened up. It has been shown, in particular, that there is no conflict between traditional culture and modern culture, they are rather complementary, allowing, as such, a full restitution to Morocco of all its "historical and national vitality."
The author’s response as to how the State generally intervenes in the cultural field is to suggest an analysis of the strategies of the national State in terms of culture, along legitimacy and domination lines. He then goes on to demonstrate that culture is no more than the ultimate product of the people involved in its making and proves, by the same token, the dynamic nature of the national Moroccan culture.
The aim of the present essay is to put forward culture as a key element in safeguarding national identity and as a real back-up to any social and economic development project.
The Moroccan example proves that culture is part of a dynamic society that embraces both the past and present. Moreover, the dialectics of History/Society and State/Civil Society cannot be overlooked in any sociological study.
I.S.B.N: 9973-911-60-1
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Book Title: The Algerian/Tunisian Peoples and France
Author: Mohamed Bach-Hamba
Presentation: Mahmoud Abdelmoula
Topic: History
Size: 16x24 Number of pages: 220
Language: French
Publication Date: 1991
Price: 4 TND |
Mohamed Bach-Hamba (1881-1920) is the brother of Ali Bach-Hamba, leader of "The Tunisian Youth Movement". Like his brother, he struggled for the liberation of his homeland. Throughout his stay in Geneva, he assumed a coordinating role between the Tunisian and Algerian patriots living in Europe, and founded" the Algerian-Tunisian Committee", which aimed at the promotion of joint action. He also founded the "Journal of the Maghreb", which supplanted "The Tunisian" newspaper, banned by the French colonial authorities.
In this book, which was published in 1918, Mohamed Bach Hamba denounces the so-called policy of "participation", a manoeuvre by the French colonial authorities, and strongly demands the independence of the Tunisian-Algerian people. "He appeals to the whole world to acknowledge their right for self rule and takes these legitimate demands to" the Congress of Peace", which will one day meet to overhaul the world map and formulate new principles for safeguarding human rights and the rights of peoples. "
The book, divided into two parts, describes the biased system imposed on Algerians and Tunisians alike: deprivation of individual liberties, inequities of the tax laws, sabotaging the local educational systems, violations of the rights of private property, conscription, naturalization, political and civil liberties, etc ... All through the book, the author scrupulously details the exclusion measures that an omnipotent and despotic system had imposed on the Algerian-Tunisian people.
I.S.B.N: 9973-911-68-7
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Book Title: The Algerian literature in Tunisia (2 volumes)
Author: Mohamed Salah Jabri
Topic: Literature
Size: 16x24
Number of pages: V.1: 330, V.2: 406
Language: Arabic
Publication Date: 1991
Price: 16 TND (2 volumes) |
In addition to its political and economic domination, French colonialism had exerted a cultural hegemony on the Algerian people, forcing many citizens from this sister country into exile in order to continue their studies at the Zitouna University of Tunis or at the Qarawiyine University of Fez, thus preserving their Arab-Muslim identity, while others were directly involved in the national struggle by publishing articles in newspapers in Tunisia or in the Mashreq. Accordingly, for over half a century, newspapers, weeklies and periodicals had echoed a rich literary production in poetry, short stories,novels…
In the first part, the author addresses the theme of Resistance where poetry had played a major role. The theme of Maghreb solidarity is also present through the participation of Algerians in the political, cultural and social activities of their Tunisian brothers.
In the second part, the author explores Algerian short stories and novels and deals with some dominating themes (the national struggle in villages and cities, the role of women in the Algerian Resistance… and refers to excerpts from short stories and poems , along with two novels published in Tunisia in the fifties. This rich and diverse literary production experienced a life-cycle and continued from 1907 to 1962, when Algeria won its independence, being interrupted only during those periods when the Tunisian press itself came under strict censorship by the colonial authorities.
I.S.B.N: 9973-911-741-1
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Book Title: An Epic Poem by Babacar Ibn Hijab
Prepared and Commented by Khadija Bint Al-Hassan
Topic: History
Size: 16x24
Number of pages: 140
Language: Arabic
Publication Date: 1991
Price: 3 TND |
There are so many ‘broken rings’ in the history chain of Mauritania, and these need ‘welding’ through reliable local documentation, foreign sources and archaeological data. The poem by Ibn Babacar hijab which traces the history of the Kingdom of Trarza (1771-1896) is an important local source. The writer of this poem had actually witnessed most of the events that he recounts, and sometimes goes by eyewitnesses. It is therefore a relatively reliable source on the history of south-west Mauritania.
Khadija Ben Al-Hassan, the author of this work, has read this poem in its historical and cultural context, giving us insight into the man’s life, a sharp, quick thinker and well-read aristocrat living close to the Emirs in power. Once categorized, the themes addressed by Ibn hijab cast much light on the belligerent nature of Ouled Diman and Ouled Ahmad Ibn Damane tribes; and especially on the Trarza dynasty which had reigned for over a century. There is also further information concerning the most outstanding men of culture and the disasters that had afflicted the region, etc ...
However, the question of the Trarza relationship with the Europeans is hardly raised, nor is the question of the foreign war adventures undertaken by the Kingdom.
In an attempt to fill the void in the original text, the author had to resort to several Arab and French sources, some manuscripts, and in some cases, to the oral tradition.
I.S.B.N: 9973-911-64-4
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Book Title: Anthology of Contemporary Maghrebine Novel (2 volumes)
Author: Ben Jemaa Bouchoucha
Topic: Literature
Size: 16x24 Number of pages: V1: 316, V.2: 334
Language: Arabic
Publication Date: 1992
Price: 10.500 TND (2 volumes) |
During the colonial period, Maghrebine literature of Arabic expression had always faced obstacles that had delayed its development and expansion. It was far from rivaling Maghrebine literature of French expression. There were only a few attempts which were closer to the story than to the novel. The delay was also due to the fact that the novel is a strange literary genre to classical Arabic literature, which has always preferred oral forms of expression. There was no rich novel writing tradition for the Maghrebine novelists to draw on as is the case in Europe for instance. It is, in fact, a new literary genre, as the experience does not exceed three decades in Tunisia, Libya and Morocco, two in Algeria and only one decade in Mauretania. The production is also scarce and poorly supported, with writers rather trying their hand at novel writing.
But since the 1970’s and 80’s, novelists in the Maghreb have been looking for some momentum. The new generation of novelists has abandoned the traditional narrative forms that marked the Arabic novel in the Mashreq and even in the West and is now trying to assert itself in new forms of writing closer to the modernist currents; and as such, we can notice, in terms of expression, a kind of openness to the vernacular.
The selections that make up this collection are meant to be as much representative of the artistic trends and the different currents of thought of Maghrebine fictional creation as possible. Presented by country and in the alphabetical order of the names of their authors, these texts are not classified chronologically or thematically.
I.S.B.N: 9973-911-92-X |
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