Omek Tannou

Omek tannou, Oumouk tangou or Amuk taniqu is an ancient Tunisian rainmaking ritual which was inherited from Punic and Berber traditions involving invocations of the goddess Tanit. It is now all but extinct.

Modern artwork inspired by the Omek tannou figure of Tunisian folklore (Artist: Jihad al-Din al-Jendoubi)

It features the ritual use of the sculpted head of a woman (somewhat resembling the head of a girl's doll), which is carried in procession between the houses of a village during periods of drought by children singing the refrain أمك طانقو يا نساء طلبت ربي عالشتاء (transliteration: amuk taniqu ya nisa' talabat rabiy ealishata'a) "Oumouk tango, O women, ask God to rain". This song varies according to the region because the term chta designates rain only in certain urban areas. Each housewife then pours a little water on the statuette believing that it will bring rain.

In some villages, instead of the "doll's head", a stick is used - to which each woman attaches a piece of clothing before giving some Barley to the children in the procession, who then move off, while singing the refrain يا بو قطمبو أعطينا شعير يملا قدحكم مالغدير
(transliteration: ya bu qatmibu 'aetayna shaeir yamalaa qadahkum malghdir)
"O Bouktambou [deformation of Omouk tangou] give us barley, your container will be filled from the water sources".[1][2]