The legendary festival of Tabarka has known several eclipses, but has always risen from the ashes. Revived this year by a new association, it proved once more that jazz tradition is well established in Tabarka.
A true legend among Tunisia’s festivals, the Tabarka Jazz Festival has concluded its 2019 edition with the exciting performance of the Jamaican Diana King (photo), famous for her single “Shy Guy’’.
The audience didn’t miss the rendezvous at the Basilica, ancient Roman cistern converted to a church under French protectorate, which has been hosting the festival since its beginnings.
The event was launched in 1973 by Lotfi Belhassine. At that time, Tabarka was still a small fishing village. Despite this, it welcomed great stars such as Joan Baez, Léo Ferré, Miles Davis, Barbara Hendricks…
Since the 1990s, the festival is more specifically dedicated to jazz. After difficult years, it has just been revived by the Association for cultural development of Tabarka. Programming was both Tunisian and international with African, Oriental, electronic and metal inspirations.
A successful edition that promises the festival a future worthy of its former glory.
Diana King at the Tabarka Jazz Festival 2019
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