Scenes from Tunisian life - Water bearer

The profession of “Saqqa” (water carrier) constitutes one of the historical pillars of social and health organization in the Tunisian medinas before the modernization of hydraulic infrastructures. This professional was the guarantor of daily life, transporting water from springs or public wells to the heart of homes and religious establishments. His role went beyond simple delivery; it embodied a local public service essential to urban survival, structuring the rhythm of neighborhoods through its regular passage. This emblematic figure illustrates the capital importance of water management in the Mediterranean world, where access to this resource was both a vital necessity and a community charity.
On a cultural level, the water carrier has become a symbol of perseverance and the traditional art of living, appearing as a witness to an era of transition towards modernity. The gradual disappearance of this profession with the installation of running water transformed the Saqqa into a nostalgic icon of the national collective memory. By devoting this program to this small street profession, the Republic pays homage to an economy of effort and solidarity which has forged the identity of Tunisian cities for centuries. This stamp is part of a desire to preserve intangible heritage and celebrate the modest but essential players in the country's social history.