The Civilizational Memory of Place in Tahar Ben Aicha’s Travel Narrative: Days with the Soviet Muslims as a Case Study

Abstract

This study examines the presence and representation of place in Tahar Ben Aicha’s travel narrative Days with the Soviet Muslims from the perspective of cultural memory. It proceeds from the assumption that place in this text does not serve a merely geographical function; rather, it becomes a repository of historical traces, symbols, and practices that evoke a multilayered Islamic history. The study draws primarily on the travel narrative corpus compiled by Dr. Ayoub Assali, while also making use of previous studies insofar as they contribute to the analysis.
Tracing the course of the journey reveals that Ben Aicha moves from direct field observation towards reconstructing the significance of place through historical monuments, mosques, cemeteries, educational institutions, and social practices. The analysis also demonstrates that his journalistic background contributed to shaping his way of perceiving place: he follows scenes closely, engages with individuals, seeks information, and combines description with testimony and dialogue.
The study concludes that Days with the Soviet Muslims constructs an image of place as a living memory in which architectural remains interact with people, institutions, and customs. Nevertheless, this construction remains closely tied to the traveller’s selection of scenes and his civilizational and journalistic perspective, which calls for a critical examination of the limits of travel testimony and the relationship between direct observation and interpretation.