The renowned Bergers de Semmama, founded by shepherd and writer Adnen Helali, will kick off the celebrations of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists with a musical concert on Monday, January 26, 2026, in Hammamet, Tunisia. The ceremony is organized by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) in collaboration with the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture and the Tunisian General Directorate of Forests, and will be attended by Mr. Jonathan Davies and Ykhanbai Hijaba, representatives of the Global Alliance for Rangelands & Pastoralists, the Tunisian Minister of Agriculture, as well as ministers and representatives from several countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and beyond: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Sudan. The Bergers de Semmama are shepherd-artists who have transformed their mountain, Semmama, located in central-west Tunisia, into an international forum for shepherds, artists, and pastoralism researchers. This collective achieved a historic milestone in 2018 by building the first pastoral cultural center in Africa and the Arab world: a beautiful mountain cultural center covering 6,000 m² The Shepherds of Semmama also organize an annual festival there every year, with the next edition scheduled from March 25 to 29, 2026.
NEWS FEATURE from Le Quotidien (26 January 2026): The Daily - The Shepherds of Semmama at the opening of the International Year of Pastures and Pastoralists
Highlights from the Event:
I would like to share with you a few highlights that marked the IYRP event in Tunisia over the past three days:
1 – The Shepherds’ Festival in Semmama honors Mr. Khijaba
On the occasion of the opening of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), the Djebel Semmama Cultural Center awarded the Djebel Medal to Mr. Khanbai Khijaba, representative of Mongolian herders and activists who initiated this movement. This gesture of recognition pays tribute to the collective efforts that emerged from the Mongolian steppes and patiently matured into this beautiful international harvest, now consecrated by the adoption of the IYRP by the United Nations and the FAO. It honors a long-term commitment to pastoral communities and to the preservation of rangelands worldwide.
2 – Semmama presents an ecological collection celebrating the IYRP
Semmama presented a collection of ecological materials including ceramic pins, a roll-up banner made of sheepskin, a trophy crafted from halfa (esparto) plant fiber, wooden supports, and bouquets of wild mountain flowers. This initiative is part of the Green IYRP Collection, entirely designed in accordance with the IYRP visual identity, and serves as a strong invitation to avoid plastic and polluting materials during this pastoral year.
