Ramadan soap operas in Tunisia
Audio 02:34
The Tunisian series "Harga", broadcast during Ramadan, is a new production on illegal immigration.
© Harga Series
By: Lilia Blaise Follow
6 mins
Every year, Tunisians discover the famous soap operas at the time of Ramadan, more and more numerous.
These serials explore taboo and controversial subjects, provoking debate within Tunisian society, which is predominantly conservative.
Publicity
Report from our correspondent in Tunis, Lilia Blaise
After the break-from-the-fast meal, Fatma, retired, and her 34-year-old son Amine, have a tradition of watching Ramadan soap operas, original Tunisian productions that only play during the holy month.
“
We can't wait for it to start when we're with family, a bit like now.
We are all gathered and we watch the soap operas and then we talk about it and we debate it, it is a tradition
”, explains Fatma.
But for her, the charm of the soap operas of yesteryear is no longer the same.
“
The soap operas have changed a bit, compared to Ramadan, the content of some is still a bit daring,
” Fatma remarks.
Daring because of scenes of violence, often more for an informed public. But since the Revolution, soap operas have also adopted a freedom of tone and content. This year, Amine, was seduced by
Harga
, a new production on illegal immigration. “
The role that an audiovisual work can play is above all through its educational and pedagogical function.
Harga
fulfills this function because he deals with a very sensitive and very important subject in Tunisia,
”he assures us.
In the district of Sidi Bou Saïd, Fatma, 37 years old and a communications consultant, likes to watch soap operas alone and not with the family. It follows a drama called
Ouled El Ghoul
, more focused on moral affairs. "
There are quite taboo subjects that are discussed such as rape, sexual harassment, extramarital pregnancies ... I find it good that these subjects are discussed,
" she explains.
Some sometimes go too far like a hidden camera, which shows a vaccination against Covid-19, with deadly effects. The World Health Organization has called for its suspension. At the Ariana market, Afef Souissi, medical secretary, said he was outraged by the program, while the country was in the middle of a vaccination campaign. "
It gives the impression that vaccination is not good and it scares people
" she laments.
Debates and polemics which give each year a lot of work to the HAICA, a body which regulates the audiovisual landscape.
Since 2013, Nouri Lajmi has been its president.
“
We are literally inundated with complaints.
In my opinion, this is an extraordinary awareness.
Through his participation, I think that the citizen can also be a co-regulator
”he testifies.
A citizen regulator but also critical in the face of soap operas which nevertheless beat audience records every year.
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