Page 7 - The Sloughi Review - Issue 6

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W
In winter there was a trek with the stallions
to the Festival International du Sahara from
Meknassy to Douz, a racetrack on the
northern edge of the Sahara. This festival
takes place annually in December, not only
for the locals and Tunisian tourists but also
Tuareg with tents, camels and sighthounds
[Sloughis], but also many French, Swiss and
German motorcyclists who come to the 4-
Daily cultural spectacles with camel races,
horse races (in which stallions from the
Bergmanns also took part), sighthound races
and all kinds of other events to marvel at."
Barbara Wenger wrote in an email from
December 2020 and in her manuscript
from March 2013:
“Heinz-Gerd worked for GTZ (now GIZ) in
Sierra Leone and Algeria, among other
places. During this time we planned an
approximately 800 km long trek from
Tunisia to Algeria along old pilgrimage
routes and had a discussion with the
Algerian Minister for Tourism, who was
extremely positive about this project.
Unfortunately, we were unable to implement
the plan at that time, mainly for financial
reasons."
“... Down-to-earth with a blue skirt, over it a
work blouse and field shoes, the woman is
committed to her fellow human beings and
animals with all her strength. She would like
to ensure the continued existence of her
Berber horse and Sloughi breeds, but also the
hippotherapy project.
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... Born in 1938, she has been living [in
2000], on the Baraket farm in Ghardimao
[northwestern Tunisia] for 35 years. The
biologist always dreamed of a life in Africa.
On their honeymoon in 1965, the day after
their wedding, she left for Tunisia. They
were considered an officially recognized
couple by the German Development Service.
... Baraket was built by the French in 1928
and was used as the headquarters of the
Algerian Liberation Army until 1962.
American well and drilling teams moved into
the building in 1963 and it was not until 1972
that the house found its destiny as an
unconventional farm, a safe haven for those
seeking help, a breeding ground for
thoroughbred Arabs and Sloughis, under the
care of the German dropouts. In 2004 Mr.
Bergmann died and so Gisela is now alone in
this special place, her goals have remained
the same...."
Traditional Asil Arab horses, Ghardimaou, 1999
© de Caprona