Kabaw, Kabao or Cabao () is a town in the

Nalut District Nalut ( ''Nālūt'') is one of the districts of Libya located in the country's north-west. Its capital is the city of Nalut. The second most notable city is Ghadames. To the north and west, Nalut district borders Tunisia ( Medenine and Tataouin ...

in northwestern

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

. It lies just off the

Gharyan Gharyan is a city in northwestern Libya, in Jabal al Gharbi District, located 80 km south of Tripoli. Gharyan is one of the largest towns in the district. Prior to 2007, it was the administrative seat of Gharyan District. In 2005, the po ...

– Nalut road and about west of Jadu,Ham, Anthony (2007) "Kabaw" ''Libya'' (second edition) Lonely Planet, Footscray, Victoria, Australia
page 162
on the northern edge of the Tripolitanian Plateau in the

Nafusa Mountains The Nafusa Mountains () () is a mountain range in the western Tripolitania region of northwestern Libya. It also includes the regions around the escarpment formed where the northern end of the Tripolitanian Plateau meets the Mediterranean coasta ...

History

Historically, Kabaw was a

Berber Berber or Berbers may refer to: Ethnic group * Berbers, an ethnic group native to Northern Africa * Berber languages, a family of Afro-Asiatic languages Places * Berber, Sudan, a town on the Nile People with the surname * Ady Berber (1913–196 ...

town in the Ghadames administrative area. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, it was occupied by the French military and governed from

Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...

. Kabaw is one of the many towns in the Jebel Nafusa region that has been inhabited by the Amazigh (Berbers) for thousands of years. The town has played a key role in preserving Amazigh language, traditions, and architecture, even as various foreign powers ruled over Libya. Ottoman and Italian Rule During the Ottoman period (1551–1911), Kabaw—like many other Nafusa towns—was part of the broader administration of Tripolitania. It was known for its defensive fortifications and unique communal granaries. Under Italian colonization (1911–1943), Kabaw and other Amazigh towns resisted Italian rule, with many locals participating in uprisings alongside Libyan nationalists like Omar Mukhtar. It was returned to Libyan control in 1951.

Attractions

Kabaw is home to the ''ghurfas'' or "Ksar Kabaw" a Berber hilltop village-fort, now abandoned. The ''ghurfas'' is built mainly of rock, gypsum and

adobe Adobe (from arabic: الطوب Attub ; ) is a building material made from earth and organic materials. is Spanish for mudbrick. In some English-speaking regions of Spanish heritage, such as the Southwestern United States, the term is use ...

, with doors made of palm wood. The Spring Qsar Festival is held in April almost every year.Battersby, Vanessa; Vladisavljevic, Branislava and Kamimura, Yukiyoshi (2007) "Qasr Festival (Kabaw, Libya)" ''Lonely Planet Middle East Phrasebook'' Lonely Planet, Footscray, Victoria, Australia
page 245

Notes

External links

"Kabaw Map — Satellite Images of Kabaw"
Maplandia World Gazetteer {{Nalut Populated places in Nalut District Berber populated places Baladiyat of Libya