The Libyan Dining Table in Modern Poetry ( Bazeen as a Model )

Abstract

To the best of this researcher's knowledge, no dish in the world surpasses the height of its bowl, except for bazin. Its dome typically extends beyond the bowl, necessitating a palm frond plate to cover it. Moreover, there is no Libyan dish as passionately loved and frequently consumed by Libyans, for lunch or dinner, as bazin. It is the sole traditional dish that has accompanied Libyans throughout their recorded history. The traveler Ibn Khaldun, along with historians like Abu Abdullah al-Tijani, Hassan Ibn al-Wazzan, and the English orientalist John Francis Leont, have mentioned bazin in their accounts. They unanimously agree that it is the preferred food of Libyans for all occasions. This dish was also the primary sustenance for Libyans during their long struggle against Italian fascism. Libyan women, as fighters in their own right, prepared bazin for the mujahideen and celebrated it in folk songs that boosted morale and strengthened resolve. Bazin embodies social unity. We need bazin to unite us around a single bowl, fostering a sense of community among Libyans, uniting us, discussing our affairs, improving our situation, and reconciling with our people.