Libya of the eyes @@

History

Before gaining its independence in 1951, Libya was a country of regionalism and tribes. In fact, it wasn’t until the 20th century when the country was joined under a coherent political unit. One reason for this lack of cohesion for so long is the topography of the country. Much of Libya is covered by desert, which separates many of the tribal regions.

The milestones in Libyan history were the introduction of Islam, the discovery of oil, and the 1969 revolution that brought Muammar al Qadhafi to power. It was under Qadhafi’s rule that the people of Libya were truly united. Oil reserves have provided the Libyan people modest wealth

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Libya Today

Today’s Libya has over 5 million citizens, most of them of Arab descent. The cities of Libya are fairly modern, but away from the cities, tribalism is still the rule. The people of Libya adhere to Muslim traditions.

Although Arabic is the official language of Libya, English is spoken in the cities and tourist areas. Older Libyans will often speak Italian, as well. However, all signs and public information is written in Arabic, so it is wise for travelers to learn a few key words and phrases in Arabic before coming to Libya

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For many years, cultural activities were curtailed, but recently, there has been a revival of the arts in Libya. The country is seeing the opening of private art galleries and a growing interest in painting. Traditional folk culture thrives throughout the country. Musical and dance troupes perform at local festivals. In fact, traditional music is so popular in Libya that most of Libyan television is devoted to traditional Libyan music performances.