Editing Libya (section)

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Libya}}
{{Further|Music of Libya|Libyan literature}}
[[File:Temple_of_Zeus_-_Cyrene.jpg|thumb|Temple of Zeus in [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]]]]
[[File:Sabratha - Museum mit Funden aus der Römerzeit, Mosaik 05.jpg|thumb|Ancient Roman mosaic in [[Sabratha]]]]
[[File:Tripoli September 1st Flags.jpg|thumb|[[1969 Libyan coup d'état|Al-Fatah Revolution day]] decorations in [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] 2008]]
Many Arabic speaking Libyans consider themselves as part of a wider Arab community. This was strengthened by the spread of Pan-Arabism in the mid-20th century, and their reach to power in Libya where they instituted Arabic as the only official language of the state. Under Gaddafi's rule, the teaching and even use of indigenous [[Berber language]] was strictly forbidden.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16289543|title=After Gaddafi, Libya's Amazigh demand recognition|date=23 December 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220232407/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16289543|archive-date=20 December 2016|work=BBC News|last1=Lane|first1=Edwin}}</ref> In addition to banning foreign languages previously taught in academic institutions, leaving entire generations of Libyans with limitations in their comprehension of the English language. Both the spoken Arabic dialects and Berber, still retain words from Italian, that were acquired before and during the ''[[Italian Libya|Libia Italiana]]'' period.

Libyans have a heritage in the traditions of the previously nomadic [[Bedouin]] Arabic speakers and sedentary [[Berbers|Berber]] tribes. Most Libyans associate themselves with a particular family name originating from tribal or conquest based heritage.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Reflecting the "nature of giving" ({{langx|ar|الاحسان}} ''{{transliteration|ar|Ihsan}}'', [[Berber languages]]: ⴰⵏⴰⴽⴽⴰⴼ Anakkaf ), amongst the Libyan people as well as the sense of hospitality, recently the state of Libya made it to the top 20 on the world giving index in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cafamerica.org/wgi-2013/ |title=CAF America- a global grantmaking organization |access-date=7 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715111213/http://www.cafamerica.org/wgi-2013/ |archive-date=15 July 2014 }}</ref> According to CAF, in a typical month, almost three-quarters (72%) of all Libyans helped somebody they did not know&nbsp;– the third highest level across all 135 countries surveyed.

There are few theatres or art galleries due to the decades of cultural repression under the Gaddafi regime and lack of infrastructure development under the regime of dictatorship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Libya looking at economic diversification|url=http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nta94862.htm|publisher=Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001209232200/http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/news/nta94862.htm|archive-date=9 December 2000|date=17 September 1999}}</ref> For many years there have been no public theatres, and only very few cinemas showing foreign films. The tradition of [[folk culture]] is still alive and well, with troupes performing music and dance at frequent festivals, both in Libya and abroad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/Dance/libya_dance_schools.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515193437/http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/Dance/libya_dance_schools.htm|archive-date=15 May 2007 |title=Libyan Dance Schools in Libya, Dancewear Suppliers, Dancing Organizations, Libyan National Commission for UNESCO, M. A. Oraieth |publisher=Bangkokcompanies.com |access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref>

A large number of [[Television in Libya|Libyan television]] stations are devoted to political review, Islamic topics and cultural phenomena. A number of TV stations air various styles of traditional Libyan music.{{Clarify|pre-text=?|date=August 2012}} [[Tuareg music]] and dance are popular in [[Ghadames]] and the south. Libyan television broadcasts air programs mostly in Arabic though usually have time slots for English and French programs.{{Clarify|pre-text=?|date=August 2012}} A 1996 analysis by the [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] found Libya's media was the most tightly controlled in the Arab world during the country's dictatorship.<ref name="mediacont">{{cite web |url=http://www.cpj.org/censored/ |title=North Korea Tops CPJ list of '10 Most Censored Countries |publisher=[[Committee to Protect Journalists]] |year=1996 |access-date=5 February 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708231639/http://www.cpj.org/censored |archive-date=8 July 2008  }}</ref> {{As of|2012}} hundreds of TV stations have begun to air due to the collapse of censorship from the old regime and the initiation of "free media".

Many Libyans frequent the country's beach and they also visit Libya's archaeological sites—especially [[Leptis Magna]], which is widely considered to be one of the best preserved Roman archaeological sites in the world.<ref>{{cite news |last=Donkin |first=Mike |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4708179.stm |title=Libya's tourist treasures |work=BBC News |date=23 July 2005 |access-date=5 February 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410014022/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4708179.stm |archive-date=10 April 2013  }}</ref> The most common form of public transport between cities is the bus, though many people travel by automobile. There are no railway services in Libya, but these are planned for construction in the near future (see [[rail transport in Libya]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libyanexpress.com/libya-and-russia-viewing-resumption-of-railway-projects/|title=Libya and Russia viewing resumption of railway projects|date=1 October 2018|access-date=1 November 2019|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526205311/https://www.libyanexpress.com/libya-and-russia-viewing-resumption-of-railway-projects/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Libya's capital, [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], has many museums and archives. These include the Government Library, the Ethnographic Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the National Archives, the Epigraphy Museum and the Islamic Museum. The [[Red Castle Museum]] located in the capital near the coast and right in the city centre, built in consultation with [[UNESCO]], may be the country's most famous.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000857/085703eo.pdf#85688 |title=Museum Architecture: beyond the <> and ... beyond |author=Bouchenaki, Mounir |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=5 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502230451/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0008/000857/085703eo.pdf#85688 |archive-date=2 May 2013 }}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{main|Libyan cuisine}}
[[File:Bazin.jpg|thumb|[[Bazin (bread)|Bazeen]], a communal bread dish]]
Libyan cuisine is a mixture of the different [[Italian cuisine|Italian]], Bedouin and traditional Arab culinary influences.<ref>{{cite web|title=Enjoy a taste of Libya's traditional dishes {{!}} The Libya Observer|url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/culture/enjoy-taste-libya%E2%80%99s-traditional-dishes|access-date=2021-05-25|website=www.libyaobserver.ly|language=en|archive-date=12 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612055238/https://www.libyaobserver.ly/culture/enjoy-taste-libya%E2%80%99s-traditional-dishes|url-status=live}}</ref> Pasta is the staple food in the Western side of Libya, whereas rice is generally the staple food in the east.

Common Libyan foods include several variations of red (tomato) sauce based pasta dishes (similar to the Italian [[Arrabbiata sauce|Sugo all'arrabbiata]] dish); rice, usually served with lamb or chicken (typically stewed, fried, grilled, or boiled in-sauce); and [[couscous]], which is steam cooked whilst held over boiling red (tomato) sauce and meat (sometimes also containing courgettes/zucchini and chickpeas), which is typically served along with cucumber slices, lettuce and olives.

[[Bazeen]], a dish made from barley flour and served with red tomato sauce, is customarily eaten communally, with several people sharing the same dish, usually by hand. This dish is commonly served at traditional weddings or festivities. [[Asida]] is a sweet version of Bazeen, made from white flour and served with a mix of honey, ghee or butter. Another popular way to serve Asida is with [[Rub (syrup)|rub]] (fresh date syrup) and olive oil. [[Usban]] is animal tripe stitched and stuffed with rice and vegetables cooked in tomato based soup or steamed. [[Chorba|Shurba]] is a red tomato sauce-based soup, usually served with small grains of pasta.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fabricant |first=Florence |date=2006-01-04 |title=In Libya, for Starters, It's the Soup |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/04/dining/arts/in-libya-for-starters-its-the-soup.html |access-date=2022-10-13 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013121422/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/04/dining/arts/in-libya-for-starters-its-the-soup.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A very common snack eaten by Libyans is known as ''khubs bi' tun'', literally meaning "bread with tuna fish", usually served as a baked baguette or pita bread stuffed with tuna fish that has been mixed with [[harissa]] (chili sauce) and olive oil. Many snack vendors prepare these sandwiches and they can be found all over Libya. Libyan restaurants may serve international cuisine, or may serve simpler fare such as lamb, chicken, vegetable stew, potatoes and [[macaroni]].{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} Due to severe lack of infrastructure, many under-developed areas and small towns do not have restaurants and instead food stores may be the only source to obtain food products. Alcohol consumption is illegal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alcohol poisoning kills 51 in Libya |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-21747409 |access-date=6 April 2023 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=11 March 2013 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409061149/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-21747409 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are four main ingredients of traditional Libyan food: [[olive]]s (and [[olive oil]]), [[Date palm|dates]], grains and milk.<ref name="Libyan Food">{{cite web |url=http://www.temehu.com/Libyan-food.htm |title=Libyan Food |publisher=Temehu Tourism Services |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806045021/http://www.temehu.com/Libyan-food.htm |archive-date=6 August 2011 }}</ref> Grains are roasted, ground, sieved and used for making bread, cakes, soups and bazeen. Dates are harvested, dried and can be eaten as they are, made into syrup or slightly fried and eaten with [[bsisa]] and milk. After eating, Libyans often drink black tea. This is normally repeated a second time (for the second glass of tea), and in the third round of tea, it is served with roasted peanuts or roasted [[almond]]s known as ''shay bi'l-luz'' (mixed with the tea in the same glass).<ref name="Libyan Food" />

=== Sport ===
[[Association football|Football]] is the most popular sport in Libya. The country hosted the [[1982 African Cup of Nations]] and almost qualified for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup]]. The [[Libya national football team|national team]] almost won the 1982 AFCON; they lost to [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] on penalties 7–6. In 2014, Libya won the African Nations Championship after beating Ghana in the finals. Although the national team has never won a major competition or qualified for a World Cup, there is still lots of passion for the sport and the quality of football is improving.<ref>{{cite web|title=Libya – Political process|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Libya|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=28 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128052452/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/339574/Libya/279574/Housing|url-status=live}}</ref> It also participated in many Summer Olympics, such as the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] and more.

Horse racing is also a popular sport in Libya. It is a tradition of many special occasions and holidays.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sports in Libya|url=https://fanack.com/libya/society-media-culture/culture/sports/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Fanack.com|language=en-US|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919215523/https://fanack.com/libya/society-media-culture/culture/sports/|url-status=live}}</ref>