The Evolution of Racial Categories in Tunisia

Summary

The evolution of racial categories in Tunisia has followed contingent paths, so it may be incorrect to compare these categories to Western racial groupings. To understand the nuances of race in Tunisia, analysis must be grounded in history, as racial hierarchies emerged from specific local processes of racialization rather than following universal patterns of racial formation. The ‘abid (literally “slaves” in Arabic), distinct social groups in contemporary Tunisia who are racialized as Black, and whose historical connection to slavery is more often presumed than historically documented, constitute a paradigmatic case. The analysis of their historical development highlights some key aspects of the scholarly debates on race and racism in Tunisia. First, race in Tunisia operates through multiple markers beyond skin color, including genealogy, social status, and religious background. Second, racial categories, such as the ‘abid, emerged through indigenous processes linked to the Arab conquests and trans-Saharan slave trade rather than being imported solely through European colonialism or constructed as a response to Western racial thinking. Nowadays, discrimination against Black Tunisians (estimated at 10–15 percent of the population) has become a prominent issue, and a few anti-racism associations have emerged and questioned the bitter legacy of slavery in the country. Since 2011, Tunisia has witnessed both progress regarding racism (e.g., the anti-discrimination Law 50/2018) and setbacks (increased xenophobia under President Saied).