The Closing Ceremony of the Heritage Month at the Sahara Museum of Douz on May 18, 2022

Dr. Hayet Guettat Guermazi, Minister of Cultural Affairs, chaired, with Mr. Taoufik Mbarki, First Delegate of the Governorate of Kebili and Mr. Mustapha Khanoussi, Advisor to the Minister, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, the closing ceremony of the 31st edition of the Heritage Month, held under the theme "the Traditional Clothing: a National identity and a Regional Specificity." The event was also attended by Mrs. Amel Hachana, Director General of the Agency for the Development of Heritage and Cultural Promotion (AMVPPC), Mr. Faouzi Mahfoudh, Director General of the National Institute of Heritage (INP°, Mr. Fathi Kouched, Director General of the Heritage Department at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Mrs. Lamia Rhaiem, Regional Delegate of Cultural Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Sayem, Regional Delegate of Tourism, Mr. Abdelkarim Maali, Regional Delegate of Handicrafts and a number of executives of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the AMVPPC, the INP and various representatives of the civil society.

The closing ceremony of the Heritage Month began with Mr. Belgacem Zarrouk, the Conservator of the Museum, presenting the components of the Sahara Museum in Douz. Then, the attendees joined lively workshops around different crafts such as the manufacture of the Balga of Marzouguiya, the embroidery of "the Melhfa", the fabrication of the "Bakhnoug", the embroidery of the "Jebba", the "wazra", the "Lahfa", the weaving, the fabrication of the "mdalla." They attend then a photographic exhibition related to the theme of the Heritage Month, "the Traditional Clothing: a National identity and a Regional Specificity."
Mr. Mohamed Jaziraoui presented a scientific intervention on the characteristics of the local dress specific to certain regions. The attendees also enjoyed listening to a tale presented by Mr. Ali Chaieb, followed by a show of popular arts entitled "the burnous". Soon after, a show named "wachma" by Mr. Saleh Souwii was presented.

The Minister of Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hayat Ketat El-Guermezi concluded the closing ceremony of the Heritage Month with a speech in which she noted that May 18, 2022, coincides also with the International Museum Day, whose celebration aims to raise awareness of the role of museums as a vessel of memory. It also plays an educational role that responds to social ends in light of rapid technological and digital changes.