Kairouan Celebrates the Mouled with Exceptional Hospitality and Timeless Values
Since the Aghlabid era, Kairouan has always reserved a special welcome for the Mouled, conveying the human values inherited from Prophet Muhammad. The Press — Furthermore, this occasion stimulates economic and social life, as numerous visitors do not hesitate to purchase famous makroudhs, carpets, keftagis, and especially copper items (see the article published on August 26, 2025, dedicated to the celebration of the Mouled). Thus, at the Nhaïssia souk, dedicated to this semi-precious metal with multiple uses, where more than thirty artisans continue to struggle for survival today (they were over 80 in the 1970s), many Tunisian and foreign visitors have acquired items, primarily for cooking, but also for decoration. In fact, many young men have bought copper items to offer as a Mouled or Eid gift to their fiancées.
Testimonies
Kamel H., a 35-year-old grocer, confides in us: "I just bought a couscous steamer, pots, plates, and pans, and I had to spend 500 dinars. Actually, I didn't want to acquire the entire copper set, as it would have cost me 1,600 dinars. Moreover, items made of steel, aluminum, and glass have replaced the copper utensils used by our grandparents." Sahbi Raïss, who owns two shops, one in Nhaïssia for manufacturing copper items and the other in the Medina, where he sells hammered copper for decoration and red copper, talks to us about the difficulties faced by the sector: "These days, there is a decline in our sales figures due to the high cost of raw materials and the invasion of other materials, such as stainless steel, porcelain, or pottery. Moreover, it's an exhausting, dirty job that poses health risks."
