• Tunisian Dalila Labidi, 73, makes puppets in her workshop in Ben Arous, Tunis. All photos EPA
    Tunisian Dalila Labidi, 73, makes puppets in her workshop in Ben Arous, Tunis. All photos EPA
  • Assistant Laila shows one of the puppets Dalila has made.
    Assistant Laila shows one of the puppets Dalila has made.
  • Tunisian Dalila Labidi, 73, makes puppets in her workshop in Ben Arous, in Tunis, Tunisa, 26 January 2022. Labidi is one of the rare woman who makes this job in Tunisia. She has been creating puppets for over 40 years. 'I have made more than 15,000 puppets since I started', she said. Labidi regularly exhibits her puppets at the Craftsmanship Fair in Tunis. She also shows her work at international fairs in France and Spain, in the United States thanks to CEPEX or in Italy, and Germany. In Tunisia, people can buy directly in her workshop. The theatrical genre of puppets in Tunisia dates back to the 14th century with the shadow theater born with 'Karakouz' and the Sicilian puppets with Ismail Pasha under the Ottoman Empire. EPA / MOHAMED MESSARA
    Tunisian Dalila Labidi, 73, makes puppets in her workshop in Ben Arous, in Tunis, Tunisa, 26 January 2022. Labidi is one of the rare woman who makes this job in Tunisia. She has been creating puppets for over 40 years. 'I have made more than 15,000 puppets since I started', she said. Labidi regularly exhibits her puppets at the Craftsmanship Fair in Tunis. She also shows her work at international fairs in France and Spain, in the United States thanks to CEPEX or in Italy, and Germany. In Tunisia, people can buy directly in her workshop. The theatrical genre of puppets in Tunisia dates back to the 14th century with the shadow theater born with 'Karakouz' and the Sicilian puppets with Ismail Pasha under the Ottoman Empire. EPA / MOHAMED MESSARA
  • Dalila regularly exhibits her puppets at the Craftsmanship Fair in Tunis.
    Dalila regularly exhibits her puppets at the Craftsmanship Fair in Tunis.
  • She also shows her work at international fairs in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the US.
    She also shows her work at international fairs in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the US.
  • In Tunisia, people can buy directly from her workshop.
    In Tunisia, people can buy directly from her workshop.
  • The theatrical genre of puppets in Tunisia dates back to the 14th century, a tradition Dalila hopes will continue.
    The theatrical genre of puppets in Tunisia dates back to the 14th century, a tradition Dalila hopes will continue.

MENA

Meet 73-year-old Tunisian puppet maker Dalila Labidi – in pictures

15,000 puppets in 40 year career

The National

January 27, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

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The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

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Poland Statement
All people fleeing from Ukraine before the armed conflict are allowed to enter Poland. Our country shelters every person whose life is in danger - regardless of their nationality.

The dominant group of refugees in Poland are citizens of Ukraine, but among the people checked by the Border Guard are also citizens of the USA, Nigeria, India, Georgia and other countries.

All persons admitted to Poland are verified by the Border Guard. In relation to those who are in doubt, e.g. do not have documents, Border Guard officers apply appropriate checking procedures.

No person who has received refuge in Poland will be sent back to a country torn by war.

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%0DMain%20Event%0D%3A%20Lightweight%20Title%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAmru%20Magomedov%20def%20Jakhongir%20Jumaev%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-Main%20Event%0D%3A%20Bantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERany%20Saadeh%20def%20Genil%20Franciso%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20150%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWalter%20Cogliandro%20def%20Ali%20Al%20Qaisi%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBantamweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERenat%20Khavalov%20def%20Hikaru%20Yoshino%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EVictor%20Nunes%20def%20Nawras%20Abzakh%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EYamato%20Fujita%20def%20Sanzhar%20Adilov%20-%20Round%201%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELightweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAbdullo%20Khodzhaev%20def%20Petru%20Buzdugen%20-%20Round%201%20(TKO)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECatchweight%20139%20lbs%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERazhabali%20Shaydullaev%20def%20Magomed%20Al-Abdullah%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFlyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ECong%20Wang%20def%20Amena%20Hadaya%20-%20Points%20(unanimous%20decision)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMiddleweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EKhabib%20Nabiev%20def%20Adis%20Taalaybek%20Uulu%20-%20Round%202%20(submission)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELight%20Heavyweight%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBartosz%20Szewczyk%20def%20Artem%20Zemlyakov%20-%20Round%202%20(TKO)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km

Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)

On sale: now

Updated: January 27, 2022, 8:33 AM
TunisiaPhotography