In the heart of the historic Palais Zarrouk, the Mahfel Room returned for an exceptional edition that masterfully blended the traditional with the contemporary on Friday, July 11. This immersive event brought together music, art, and craftsmanship to celebrate Tunisia’s rich cultural heritage in an innovative and accessible way.
Mahfel Room is not just a concert — it’s a living, breathing concept designed to revalorize Tunisia’s tangible and intangible heritage. Through a unique fusion of traditional Tunisian music with electronic, underground, and rap genres, the event seeks to connect past and present, appealing to both national and international audiences. Each edition is carefully curated with exclusive performances, developed in artistic residencies, and performed live for the very first time.
For this edition, the spotlight was on the Palais Zarrouk — a 19th-century palace overlooking the sea, built by allies of the Beylical regime. The palace’s architecture, which weaves together Turkish, Arab, and Andalusian influences, provided an atmospheric backdrop for the evening’s festivities.
The performance took place at the very center of the monument, with the audience encircling the stage — a setup that invited attendees to rediscover the architectural beauty of the site from every angle. Enhancing this multisensory experience was a customized light show, designed specifically to highlight the palace’s features and create a visual symphony that paralleled the music.
But Mahfel Room is more than sound and sight — it’s a cultural experience. Alongside the musical performances, a curated space hosted local artisans and creators. Attendees explored stalls featuring handmade clothing, jewelry, food products, and traditional crafts, all proudly Tunisian. Live workshops allowed guests to get hands-on with the creative process, deepening their connection to the heritage on display.
With this blend of music, history, and artisanal creativity, Mahfel Room once again affirmed its mission: to bring new life to Tunisia’s cultural monuments and amplify its artistic voices on a global stage.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Kais Fatnassi- Mahfel Room)
