Culture of Libya
Food
Libyan cuisine is a mixture of Arabic and Mediterranean, with a strong Italian influence. Italy's legacy from the days when Libya was an Italian colony can be seen in the popularity of pasta on its menus, particularly macaroni. A famous local dish is couscous, which is a boiled cereal (traditionally millet, now fairly often wheat) used as a base for meat and potatoes. The meat is usually mutton, but chicken is served occasionally. Libya also grows olives and lots of fruit and vegetables along the Mediterranean cost. Sharba is a highly-spiced Libyan soup. Bazin, a local speciality is a hard paste, made from barley, salt and water, and one of the most popular meals in the Libyan cuisine is Batata mubatana (filled potato), it consists of fried potato pieces filled with spiced minced meat and covered by egg and breadcrumbs.
Libyans prefer to eat at home, except on Fridays, when they enjoy family beachside picnics. For the most part, restaurants and cafes are used by foreigners. Menus have become more sophisticated and one can find a greater variety of mainly Libyan and Middle Eastern cuisine. International cuisine is available in the larger hotels.
All alcoholic drink is banned in Libya, in accordance with the laws of Islam. Local 'brews' are available, but are strictly illegal and likely to be of poor quality. Bottled mineral water is widely consumed, as are various soft drinks. Libyan tea is a thick beverage served in a small glass, often accompanied by mint or peanuts. Regular American/British coffee is available and in Libya is known as Nescafé.
The media
Government control over the media has resulted in much of the population preferring to entertain itself by watching videos or foreign stations via satellite. Libyan television programmes are mostly in Arabic with a 30-minute news broadcast each evening in English and French. It is also possible to watch the occasional sports programme. However, the majority of programming is cultural and thus showcases more traditional Libyan music and entertainment. Libya's daily newspaper is Al-Fajr al-Jadid and is published in Tripoli. Foreign newspapers are available, but are often very out-of-date by the time they reach the shops
The Berbers
The Berbers are an indigenous North African tribe, who originally inhabited the lands of the Jafara plain in north-western Libya, with Zuara as their main centre. During various Arab invasions, however, they were gradually driven back into the Jabal Nafusa area, where they now remain in comparative isolation. Their language, Tamazight, has survived intact, together with an individuality of cultural style, particularly in the field of architecture. The Berbers are Muslim, but follow a specialized branch of Islam, known as the Ibadite branch; many Sunnite Muslims look upon this as heresy. Berber relationships with the Arab invaders have been hostile throughout history, with many revolts against Arab rule. In more recent times, however, the Berbers have sought to create a semi-autonomous province. When Libya became independent in 1951, the Berbers hoped for recognition of their language on an equal status with Arabic, as well as some official acknowledgment of the distinctness of their culture. These aspirations were forestalled by the rise in Arab nationalism at this time, and a further setback took place at the time of the 1969 coup. Berbers continue to live a completely separate life from the rest of the Libyan population, and maintain their very different culture with a sense of pride. However, nowadays more and more Berbers have chosen to live in the major cities and assimilate whether it be for better work opportunities or in the pursuit of higher education.
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