Akouda 1943: A Voice from the Margins
By Cyrine Kortas
Revising History through Fiction
Akouda 1943 is the third novel by Tunisian writer Houayda Ben Halima, published in 2017. It is a historical account that connects the personal with the political, and the local and global all set during World War II. The Tunisian epic tale spans from 1943 to 1945, exploring not just the grand scope of the world conflict but also the intimate struggles of a fictional Tunisian family, Taher’s family, namely his brother Hamza and his sister Zohra and their strive to save their village.
The story takes places in the author’s hometown during World War II, when Tunisia was a battleground between Axis and Allied forces. Through her unique storytelling that merges history and fiction, Ben Halima informs readers about wartime politics while evoking deep emotional responses through well-developed characters and historical research to reflect on the human condition in times of conflict.
Ben Halima challenges traditional war literature, typically focused on male soldiers, by centering Zohra as the protagonist. A resilient woman who defies victimhood to actively fight for her freedom and that of her community, she earns the admiration of two badly injured soldiers from the opposing factions. In their letters, the soldiers express their admiration of the woman’s indomitable spirit to save her village and her family. The novel amplifies women’s often-silenced, always-shadowed experiences in conflict zones.

The Cave, the Family and the War
Influenced by her grandfather’s stories of his village’s struggles during the WWII, the Tunisian author weaves a mosaic of voices that were torn by the atrocities of the conflict. At its core, Akouda 1943 narrates the story of a family seeking refuge in a cave from the raging conflicts outside. In the safety of the cave, Zohra cares for two wounded soldiers from rival factions while worrying about her brother Taher. Together with her younger brother Hamza, they plan to save their village from the destruction caused by both the Axis and Allied forces.
The cave becomes a character in the story, a transformative space that contrasts sharply with the chaos outside, allowing enemies, namely Rudolph, the German captain, and Alexander, the American lieutenant, to find common ground and develop deep bonds. Blurring the lines between friendship and love, the cave embodies peace amid turmoil while weaving historical events that enrich the narrative and complicate the delicate interplay between history and fiction.
The text uses an epistolary technique with foreign soldiers such Rudolph and Alexander recounting the atrocities of the war and expressing appreciation for the resilience of Taher’s family. The narrative is structured around both personal and military events, exploring themes of duty, sacrifice, and the moral ambiguities of war.
Through the family struggle, the novel reflects broader societal changes and tensions during such a tumultuous period, making the characters’ story resonate with the local and international readers on different levels. It offers them the opportunity to connect emotionally with the events and develop a sense of empathy when reflecting on the past as experienced by commoners, oftentimes absent from history books.
Complex Lives of Zohra, Hamza, and Rudolph
Ben Halima illustrates how personal lives are irrevocably altered by political events. Each character’s journey reflects broader themes of duty, sacrifice, and self-realization, creating a vivid picture of the complexities of human experience during war.
A German soldier, Rudolph is full of remorse and regret for the destruction his people have caused. His hallucinations are a metaphor for his inner turmoil and increasing consciousness of his involvement in the war. When Taher takes him to the cave, Rudolph finds meaning in his love for Zohra, who not only heals his physical wounds but also provides him with the emotional support and understanding he has been seeking, allowing him to finally discover the true purpose in life.
Hamza, Zohra’s younger brother, left the family to pursue his studies in France. When witnessing the atrocities of the war, a growing desire for independence and an intense thirst for freedom mark him deeply. He eventually becomes a hero, saving his brother Mohamed from the French and rescuing Zohra from an old Sheikh who wants to marry her against her will. This transformation shows how personal relationships connect with broader political issues and social norms.
The only female character granted space to act and speak, Zohra, represents those deeply affected by war on a personal level. Her journey from a sheltered life to one fraught with danger encapsulates the struggle for identity amid chaos. As she flees patriarchal persecution in the old Sheikh’s house, her character embodies resilience and determination. Defying all social norms, she insists on attaining to the two injured soldiers. Her red Berber robe with its many embroidered designs symbolizes her strength, education, and resistance. Zohra’s story wins people’s love and respect, and as is the case with all the other characters, her story illustrates how historical events shape personal identity and relationships.
War, Resistance and Humanity in Akouda 1943
Akouda 1943 explores themes of war’s brutality, the transformative power of love, the quest for meaning in chaos, and the importance of friendship. While addressing the calamities of the war, Houayda Ben Halima depicts the profound devastation of World War II and colonization, focusing on their impact on individuals, families, and communities. Characters like Mohamed poignantly express the senselessness and brutality of the conflict, lamenting the destruction of cultural symbols such as olive trees, which embody resilience, identity, and a deep connection to the land. He reflects, “Akouda, five armies set up tents on its outskirts and pour bombs on its lands and homes. The specter of death alone roams around your city, my son,”(p. 25).
Characters such as Rudolph strive against a profound existential dilemma, questioning ideology, violence, their duty in a world marked by conflict, and their sense of belonging. As she tends to his wound, Zohra is also healing his troubled soul. Witnessing the atrocities and moral decay of the war, Rudolph’s faith in human reason and secular ideals falter, leading him to question his beliefs. He finds peace and meaning in Zohra’s prayers referring to the place where she prays as illuminating. Finding solace and strength in each other, their love transcends the horrors of war, offering a powerful testament to the enduring human capacity for connection and compassion.
Voices Heard and Silenced
Ben Halima’s writing style is both accessible and evocative; she employs vivid descriptions that immerse readers in the sights and sounds of wartime setting. The emotional weight of the characters’ experiences is conveyed through poignant prose that captures their fears, hopes, and resilience reported in letters to their families oversees. The author’s use of the epistolary conveys the characters’ personalities and motivations and bridges the gap between the historical and the fictional. In the letters, the soldiers talk about encounters with war officials and setting war tactics to rescue the captivated, in a well-crafted style. These instances feel genuine and provide insight into each character’s mindset during critical moments in local and global history.
Despite its postcolonial framing, the narrative disproportionately focuses on foreign characters, often sidelining local perspectives. Hamza, Mohamed, and even Taher are voiced only in the letters written by Alexander and Rudolph. Additionally, the text brings the character of Zohra to the far front as the epitome of rebellion and resistance. Still, no other female character is granted such privilege. Female characters are denied both the time and space to express themselves, highlighting a significant gap in representation. This gap drives one to ask whether Zohra’s exceptionalism truly reflects the experiences of other women in Akouda or Tunisia during the war. This recess highlights the risk of reinforcing a hierarchy of female voices, overshadowing the diversity of women’s experiences.
A Timeless Tale
For readers seeking a deep dive into the complexities of war through an engaging narrative lens, Houayda Ben Halima’s novel offers a compelling experience that remains relevant today. As readers close the novel on Hamza’s words “We shall continue our struggle against betrayal, hypocrisy and deception,” (p. 277) a promise is made for a universal saga with Tunisian flavors, most relevant to today’s world. Ben Halima’s ability to intertwine rich and complex characterization with significant historical events creates a narrative that is both enlightening and emotionally resonant.
References
Ben Halima, H. (2017). Akouda 1943. Tunis: Dar Noukoush Arabia.
About the author
Cyrine Kortas holds a PhD in English Literature. She is a long-term fellow at MECAM. Her research project at MECAM is a comparative study between English New Man literature and Maghrebi one, using Sufism as a theoretical framework. She is an assistant professor at the Higher Institute of Languages, Gabes, Tunisia and a researcher at the LAD lab unit at the faculty of arts and humanities Sfax. She is also a non-permanent member of the London Centre for Interdisciplinary Research. Her research interests include comparative literature, feminist and gender studies, as well as teaching literature in EFL classrooms.
Citation: Cyrine Kortas, Akouda 1943: A Voice from the Margins, in: TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research, 28.01.2025, https://trafo.hypotheses.org/54561
OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Forum Transregionale Studien (January 28, 2025). Akouda 1943: A Voice from the Margins. TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research. Retrieved March 25, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/136cl