Le Kef: The Numidian City of Northwest Tunisia  Heir to ancient Sicca Veneria amd to medieval Shaqbanaria, the modern city of le Kef is a synthesis of ancient North African and Mediterranean civilizationsand constitutes a rich and vibrant cultural conservatory. Situated on the last promontory or the Jbel al-Dir plateau, overlooked the valley created by Wad Mallegue, it is far from the major prehistoric settlements of Koudiat Soultane, and has proved very rich in megalithicvestiges, tangible signs of the first centers of sedentary settlements, attesting to the existence of urban establishment before the arrival of the Phoenicians and Punic expansion to the west of the country.  The city of founded by theLibyans probably in the 5th century BC was inhabited very early on by a Sicilian colony established by Carthage. Atemple-city and a Carthaginian fortress, Sicca was alreadymentioned in 241 BC during the Carthaginian mercenary wars. ***** While it was eclipsed byLorbeus, the town nevertheless Remained a lively urban centre until the XVIthcentury despite the pressure from pastoral tribes. A fief of Beni Chanour tribeat the end of the Hafsid era, during the XVIth century, the city of Shaqbanariachanged its name to its present one—al-Kaf (le Kef). The position of le Kef was rehabilitated by the Ottomans when they took over the domains belonging to the tribes of the region and formed the westernboarders of the Gegency of Tunis. During the last three centuries it played the role of an advanced bastion o f the Regency in the East; its fortifications werea determining factor during many conflicts. For a long time it ranked third largest city of Tunisia and experienced a considerable economic, social, and intellectual development. Le Kef was the first city to be occupied by French troupes in 1881, and in 1884 it became a municipality. Photo credit: Copyright © 2011 lekef.com. All rights reserved. |
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