Fez - The10th festival of Amazigh culture is held in Fez and is sponsored by “the Soul of Fez” foundation, the “Fes Sais” association, and the North South Center for Intercultural Dialogue and Migratory Studies.
The festival sought to highlight the intersection between Amazigh and Hassani culture.
In her presentation at the festival, Fatema Abel Wahab, a professor in Nouakchot University, represented the Hassani feminine poetry “Tebraâ.” She gave the characteristics of the poetry, its linguistic rules, and its functions.
She began by giving the etymology of the word “Tabraâ.” In an attempt to explain the meaning of this word, she said, “Tabraâ means ‘good quality’, and it also means giving without expecting something in return.”
She mentioned that poetry is given scant consideration in the Saharan societies. She went so far as to say that “these societies put Poetry in the category of forbidden things.”
Fatema added that the woman who composes this kind of poetry or the “Barraâ” tries to hide her identity and also the identity of the lover for whom she writes. She added that Saharan social norms have moulded this feminine poetry to fit in these conservative societies.
Fatema’s speech revolved around the originality of this Hassani poetry. She stressed the fact that “Tabraâ” is composed and sung only among women. She said, “Men who tries to imitate ‘brat’ are described as “khonta.”
The speaker mentioned that the main theme of this poetry is love. In other words, women try to put into words their feelings in a modest way. They try to express their attraction to a man or praise man. Apart from love, “Baraât” can tackle other societal issues in a poetic manner.