Historian Abdeljelil Temimi: 'Silencing Testimonies of Nation's Founders Is Unfair'

Tunis, November 20 (TAP, interview by Rim Kacem) - Tunisian historian Abdeljelil Temimi urged increased initiatives to gather and protect pe...

Tunis, November 20 (TAP, interview by Rim Kacem) - Tunisian historian Abdeljelil Temimi urged increased initiatives to gather and protect personal accounts, which he views as crucial for documenting the recent history of the Arab region.

"It is unfair to ignore those who constructed this country and allow their accounts to perish with them," he stated to TAP.

The interview comes after his recent recognition in the United Arab Emirates, where he was presented with the 19th Al Owais Prize in the Future Human Studies category for his research titled "Studies on the History of Ottoman Maghreb in the 16th Century." He is the 7th Tunisian, spanning different fields, to be honored with this esteemed award from the Al Owais Cultural Foundation.

The 87-year-old historian, who established the Temimi Foundation for Scientific Research and Information in the 1980s, mentioned that various unrecorded accounts are being documented at present and will be released as part of the Dictionary of National Memory series.

Temimi highlighted the importance of what he calls "archives of lived experience" — personal stories that he views as a significant resource, similar to approaches seen in Europe.

He expressed sorrow over the loss of numerous Tunisian and Arab voices whose narratives remained unrecorded. "We have missed a valuable chance," he remarked.

The historian also re-examined his studies regarding the Ottoman presence in the Maghreb. He stated that the term "occupation," which has been used by certain Arab historians, does not represent a comprehensive examination of the existing records.

Alternatively, he introduces the idea of "Ottomanisation of the Maghreb provinces" to characterize the administrative structure during that time. He called upon Arab scholars and organizations to reevaluate their perspectives.

Temimi also discussed a large collection of documents concerning Ottoman Libya, urging Libyan historians to revisit this era, contending that the examination of the Ottoman history in the Maghreb "holds vital lessons" for the region.

He released eight volumes, each almost 900 pages long, gathering hundreds of testimonies collected at the headquarters of his foundation. One of the most significant is the story of the son of Salah Ben Youssef, detailing "the wrongs endured by his family, along with tales about the property of former Beys."

Fresh, unshared accounts feature studies on Ottoman music and the waqf (endowment) properties of the Sadikia. Two additional volumes of the Dictionary of National Memory are in the works.

Temimi encouraged anyone with historical evidence to "contribute to advance knowledge and scientific research," highlighting researchers who can carry forward the long-term documentary collection, such as Tlili El-Ajili, recognized for his work on the religious endowments of the Holy Sites and the Sadikia.

Considering his professional journey, Temimi discussed initial challenges, especially issues in gaining entry to Tunisian universities, and mentioned that he has played a role in the development of several academic publications, including Revue d'Histoire Maghrébine and La Revue Arabe d'Histoire Ottomane.

He urged the younger generation to "protect Tunisia's history within the context of the Maghreb," emphasizing the importance of mastering foreign languages, especially Italian, due to the extensive archives related to the Maghreb stored in Italy.

Temimi has an extensive collection of 21,000 books, which are currently being converted into digital format through a partnership with the National Library and the National Archives of Tunisia.

He urged emerging scholars to investigate history "with accountability and clarity."

English: Ben Dhaou Nejiba

Copyright 2025 Tunis Afrique Presse. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (okay1).

Tagged: Tunisia, North Africa

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).