Libya’s Toubou tribe, an indigenous black people native to the country, tries to keep their identity despite the ongoing civil war in the country. The tribe whose identity was ignored under the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi and denied citizenship has been coming together at the "Toubou Culture Festival" since 2015 to show that they are a part of this country with their unique culture. The festival is held in mid-September in the capital Tripoli by the Toubou tribe, located from the south of Libya to Chads. "We have our own heritage and tradition. In this festival, we want to introduce our culture, which makes us different from other people to all Libyans and the world," media representative of the festival Zeyneb Ibrahim said. She also drew the attention of the importance of women in the tribe saying: "The Toubou Culture Festival was attended by many women, along with families. Women have an important role in the Toubou community and culture. Women have a pioneering role. They can even do the hard work that men do. Since the times of our ancestors, Toubou woman has a pioneering place." The tribe was persecuted under the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi and denied citizenship. "During the rule of the previous regime for 40 years, minorities... and Toubou people ... were banned from politics... The state was a single-element structure with an absolute Arab identity. They wanted to forget Toubou's own identities. Their language, identity, traditions, their music, and culture were ignored," a non-governmental organization volunteer, Muhammed Es-Senusi said. Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The Libyan government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to a military offensive by Haftar’s forces.
