Fatma Nittouf

19th-century Tunisian activist who organized clandestine literacy classes for women

Fatma Nittouf (1840–1910) secretly taught literacy to women in Tunis during Ottoman rule when female education was banned. She established underground schools in her home, using Arabic scripts and local dialects. Her efforts inspired the 1901 creation of Tunisia's first official girls' school. She also documented women's oral histories, preserving traditions like the Malouf music genre. Her story is featured in Tunisian Heritage Society archives. Recent studies include Journal of North African Studies articles. Her legacy influenced modern activists like UN Women's Tunisia initiatives.