The Tunisian musician Mohamed Garfi died this Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the age of 78, after a rich artistic and creative career that spanned several decades and during which he helped enrich Tunisian and Arab music.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs paid tribute to the late musician in a statement, recalling that he was born in Tunis in 1948. Mohamed Garfi was among the most innovative musicians of his generation. From the outset, he had chosen the path of research and experimentation, far from the dominant musical trends.
According to the ministry, Mohamed Garfi began his musical career in 1969 as a violist with the Tunisian Symphony Orchestra. He later founded Group 71, before taking the helm of the City of Tunis Musical Ensemble.
During his career, he notably collaborated with the poet Abdelhamid Khraïef, as well as with artists Thamer Abdeljawad, Aziza Boutraâ and Ahmed Zarrouk. He also worked with the artist Béchir Drissi, his friend and colleague, on several theatrical works and operas for which he supervised the conception and staging.
Mohamed Garfi was at once a composer, a music author, and a conductor. He participated in numerous productions intended for theatre, cinema and television. He also collaborated with the Rahbani, Marcel Khalifé, Julia Boutros and Ali El Haggar within the framework of the program “Voice of Freedom.”
The late figure also distinguished himself through several shows devoted to defending causes he considered just. After leaving the City of Tunis Musical Ensemble, he presented the show “Zakharef Arabiya” at several festivals.
His last work, “Men Gaâ El Khabia”, had been presented at the opening of the Carthage International Festival on July 19, 2025.
Mohamed Garfi also set to music poems by several major figures of Arabic poetry, among them Mahmoud Darwish, Aboul Kacem Chebbi, Ahmed Fouad Negm, Said Akl, Mansour Rahbani, Abdelhamid Khraïef, Mnawar Smadah and Souilmi Boujemaa.
