Matmata

Matmata (Arabic: مطماطة‎) is a small Berber-speaking town in southern Tunisia. Some of the local Berber residents live in traditional underground troglodyte structures. In 2004 it had a population of 2,116. The structures typical for the village are created by digging a large pit in the ground. Around the perimeter of this pit artificial caves are then dug to be used as rooms, with some homes comprising multiple pits, connected by trench-like passageways.

Matmata is a popular tourist attraction and site of the Ouma of Dunes event organized by Nejib Belhedi. Most of the population lives on tourism and folklore exhibitions in their homes.

Hollywood films

The Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata was used in 1976 as a filming location for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in which it featured as the home of Luke Skywalker, his Aunt Beru Lars and Uncle Owen Lars on the planet Tatooine. The hotel is designed as a traditional Berber troglodyte underground building. It featured again in the 2002 prequel film Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. One of Call of Duty 2's missions and multiplayer maps takes place in Matmâta as part of North African Campaign. Matmâta is also set to star in the upcoming film La soif noire, an adaptation of the book from Swiss author Hans Ruesch starring Antonio Banderas and Freida Pinto.

Ouma of Dunes

The Ouma of Dunes is a multi-day, multi-event ouma festival organized by Nejib Belhedi in the Tunisian Sahara desert. The Ouma of Dunes kick-offs the Saharan swimming circuit where children and adults can swim in natural clean open bodies of water in Tunisia. The program includes events in Tozeur, Tamerza, Chebika, La Corbeille de Nefta, Ksar Ghilane, Tataouine, Douz, and Matmata.

External links

• Swimming In The Sahara, Ouma And Oases Of Open Water
• Ouma Facebook page
• Ouma Expands To Next Generation In Tunisia
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Open Water Swimming
• Ouma during the 1400K Swim Across Tunisia
• Eco-Battle Over Oued Ellouza, Fought With Ouma
• A Peaceful End To The 1400K Swim Across Tunisia
• Adam Walker Shares Ouma And His Passion
• Swim Of Peace Ouma - Djerba In Tunisia