Pious Entertainment Al-Saha Traditional Village

Abstract

In the southern suburb of Beirut (al-Dahiya), away from mainstream tourism avenues privileged by the post-war reconstruction agendas of Lebanese entrepreneurs and elites, alternative forms of entertainment have been developing for specific types of constituencies. Fifteen years after the organization of the “Islamic sphere,” under Hizbullah’s umbrella, into financial, political and social networks, new places providing the pious with popular culture services have been multiplying in al-Dahiya. “Al-Saha” belongs to this world of pious entertainment and forms an interesting casestudy for understanding the cultural features of the Islamic sphere in Lebanon.