Music of Tunisia
Tunisia is a North African country with a predominately Arab population. The country is best-known for malouf, a kind of music imported from Andalusia after the Spanish conquest in the 15th century.
Malouf is played b small orchestras, consisting of violins, drums, sitars and lutes. Modern malouf has some elements of Berber music in the rhythms.
Baron Erlanger is an important figure of modern Tunisian music. He collected the rules and history of malouf, which filled six volumes, and set up Rachidia, an important conservatory which is still in use.
20th century musicians include Anouar Brahem, an oud player, and El Azifet, a rare all-female orchestra, and Khemais Tarnane, Raoul Journou, Saliha, Saleh Mehdi, Ali Riahi, Hedi Jouini, and Fethia Khairi.
