TOMB AND MAUSOLEUM OF SHEIKH SIDI AÏSSA

The tombs of Sheik Abu Mahdi ben Aissa Smail, and his disciples are in the north of Ksar of Melika, within a large cemetery regarded as a true city of the dead.

Cheikh Sidi Aissa, came from the highlands of Ouled Nail, in 1500 he had many disciples in the valley and other M'Zab from Djerba in Tunisia and in Lybian Jabal Naffoussa. He left many writings in various fields such as fiqh, literature and other sciences.

Mélika, his adopted city, remained loyal to him dedicating the privilege of raising his tombstone and his disciples ones making them in small works from Timchemt (local plaster). These works treated as surreal sculptures, with their pinnacles of varying heights offer a unique and unparalleled plastic image.

In front of these tombs is spread an area for prayer where Melika people gather at the funeral and "ziyara" or visit. This one is held annually in the spring by "Azzaba" (council of elders), and consists essentially of local history and disclose to perpetuate knowledge of the collective memory.

The Sidi Aissa mosque, on the edge of the cemetery and near the walls of Ksar was an integral part of the overall architectural landscape of these places, but unfortunately it was destroyed in the sixties.