Hattab Bougara, one of Bab Souika’s most popular residents had a huge responsibility. In the 1950s, his father became a legend licensing artists to perform in Café Chanta (“café sings”), making Bab Souika a destination for artists from around the globe.

Café Chanta witnessed the rise of dancer Zohra Lampoupa (lamp), in reference to the colored lights that surrounded her body while dancing. “Café Chanta created many artists like the late Fatma Boussaha, Hedi Habbouba, Fawzi bin Gamra, Rida Trabelsi and others,” says Bougara.

Greats like Ismail Hattab, the late artist Fatma Boussaha, and dancers Zeina and Aziza, who also saw their heydays in Bab Souika, grew so famous that yellow double-decker buses were named after them.

“Decades ago, he said, “Café Chanta was the vibrant heart of this neighborhood where everyone enjoyed its popular music and dancing, especially during Ramadan.”

But the state eventually stopped supporting Café Chanta and the forgotten town on the outskirt of the capital lost its verve.

Renaissance

This Ramadan, Bouraga vowed to bring Café Chanta back to life. “It was not easy, but the support Bougara received from Tunis Governorate pushed me to restore the sparkle to the neighborhood after more than half a century,” he said.

Sitting at the entry to Café Chanta, Bouraga sold tickets while a band kicked off the event.

This Ramadan, many famous Tunisian artists performed there, such as Hadrat Thawadi, Zein Haddad and Alia Belaid, in addition to young artists like Wassim Shabi.

Café Chanta brought together people from all age groups. Naziha Andalusi, 80, came to enjoy the shows and recall the beautiful atmospheres of Café Chanta just like when she was young. “I remember very well the setting of Nahj Kabda Hall and Madrid Hall that used to host storywriter Abdulaziz Arawi and artists Saliha and Alia,” she said. “I love art. I come from Testour, the city of music genre Ma’luf, which is why I like all shows.”

Bab Souika’s history is dominated by art. Moreover, it has offices for many political figures, such as the law office of former President Habib Bourguiba and the office of his political rival, Saleh Bin Youssef. Bab Souika also witnessed a horrific bloody day known as the Bab Souika incident in the early 1990s.

by Najla Ben Salah