Sidi bou sad: The international scientific colloquium "People Around the Baron" commenced on Friday morning at the Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music (CMAM), Ennejma Ezzahra Palace. The two-day event delves into the multifaceted history of Baron Rodolphe D'Erlanger, exploring architecture, music, mosaics, and other domains linked to his legacy and influential circle.
According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, the morning session featured speakers who highlighted the architectural uniqueness of Ennejma Ezzahra Palace, the Baron's passion for Tunisian and Arab music, and his role in organizing the first Congress of Arab Music in Cairo in 1932. The session was chaired by Khaled Abid, historian and Director of the Higher Institute of Contemporary History of Tunisia. Architect Fakher Kharrat provided an overview of the architectural features of the palace, constructed by the Baron between 1912 and 1922. The palace, covering more than 3,000 square meters, is noted for its Andalusian style interior architecture and its influence on the overall architecture of Sidi Bou Sad, including the iconic blue and white color scheme.
The colloquium also examined the significant contributions of Baroness Bettina, the Baron's wife, as discussed by British researcher Winkie Williamson. Williamson, who has dedicated nearly a decade to research at CMAM, traced the couple's life using resources from the Ennejma Ezzahra library. She emphasized the Baroness's role in the Baron's achievements, noting her linguistic abilities and musical interests, as well as her prolonged residency at the palace after the Baron's death in 1932.
The colloquium further explored the couple's impact on Tunisia's history, with Salwa Ben Hfaied, Director of CMAM, analyzing the novel "A New Way of Life" by British writer Robert Hichens. Hichens had close ties to the Baron and documented his experiences in Tunisia and Algeria, focusing on the local culture and artistic life.
Other speakers, including former university professor Mounir Fendri, Al-Ahram Editor-in-Chief Rania Hafny, and communications expert Mohamed Wahid Khadhraoui, discussed the organization of the 1932 Congress of Arab Music. They highlighted the contributions of key figures like ethnomusicologist Erich von Hornbostel, Congress Secretary Mahmoud Hafny, and Manoubi Snoussi, the Baron's right-hand man, who represented him at the congress due to his health issues.
Snoussi's work in musical documentation and his contributions to D'Erlanger's six-volume work on Arab Music were also recognized. His legacy is honored at CMAM, with a room and an avenue in Sidi Bou Sad named after him.