the "Open Air" Like Museum
Southern Mauritania, Mauritania
Background
Tidjikja, the capital of the Tagant region of central Mauritania, is located 375 kilometres from Atar and 250 kilometres from Tichit. The town is lying on the Tagant plateau and is one of the largest palm plantations of Mauritania. Tidjikja was founded in 1680 by the Idawalis who came from Chenguetti.
Tidjikja quickly developed, becoming a caravan city. At the beginning of the 20th century, it is already a prosperous village. It attracted Capolani, who made it a fortified town. Tidjikja extends besides a Wadi (river) that bears the same name. The town owes its prosperity to the entrepreneurial spirit of its inhabitants who knew how to create prosperous palm plantations and gardens. Tidjikja is also a cattle-breeding area and a commercial warehouse.