top of page

Video about my trip in Djanet in Algeria 2016

What is Sebeiba ?

    Muharrem 10th of every year, the city of Djanet celebrate The "Sebeiba", which's a ceremony celebrated by the "Touareg". The Sebeiba history comes back to before christmas; where Moises (peace be upon him) won upon Pharaon. Some believes that it comes back to a peace convention made between the "Mihane" and "Zelouaz" Targui tribes. this event is celebrated in Djanet in the area of "Ajriou Doughiya" valee.

        Sebeiba was classified on 2014 by the UNISCO as an international heritage under the title of 'Rituals and ceremonies of Sebeiba in the Oasis of Djanet-Algeria', these rituals called "Timoulaouine" are prepared during 9 days, where special training are practiced with the poesy and traditional clothing, the dancers also train to the sebeiba dance, the women train to the songs and some of them plays the "Ganga" instrument, which's the drum played using gooseneck stick. So sebeibais a peaceful war within a poetry, dance, signing,musical and wearing competition between the two tribes.

    The dancer wears the "Takmast" clothes, putting "Tikombout" on their heads which is an old hat, they inherit from their ancestral, a pair of sandals called "Tamba", he holds in one hand a sword and a naplein,while the women wear the best jewelery they have, some play the "Gange", the others sing and clap.Men dance in a circular moves. Dancers roam in the yard yard where the sebeiba is celebrated the last day. Dancing and signing are played in the morning while the exposition of "Tikmassine" which is a loose cloothes worn by the men dancing in a circle in the yard, this tradition is called "Completing the year".

     At the end of the day, the winner tribe's name is annonced.

bottom of page