Choufou El Arbiyya: Tunisian Women’s Dance

Choufou El Arbiyya: Tunisian Women’s Dance

Tunisian women have a solidarity stronger than in most other countries. In many countries, the strongest bond is between the mother and her eldest son (because he is culturally obligated to take care of her, should anything happen to his father), but in Tunisia, much fabulous poetry has been written about the bonds between mother and daughter.

In this dance, the women mime putting on makeup, show their ankles – to demonstrate that they are not wearing khul-khaal & are therefore, not married – & they show off their unique, forward & back twisting hipwork & agility.

The lyrics of the song ask the listener to “Look at the 4th Girl!” – *she* is the one he loves!