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
.
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
.
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.
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