Algeria- Land of cultural Heritage

( Deepti Kataria )

Can you name the biggest country in Continent Africa?

No… it’s not South Africa... Not even Egypt...

It’s Algeria!!

Let’s know little bit more about this Amazing country Algeria.

The culture of most of the countries is influenced by their past and this is certainly true about Algeria.  A land of hospitality, Algeria is known for its cultural heritage that developed with the course of time as well as for its civilizations that crossed this land from the dawn of history, to draw the contours of a perfect mosaic of the cultural richness of the Algeria of today.

Essentially, the culture of Algeria it is a fascinating blend of varied Religion, Music, different Languages spoken across the country and its rich literary extravaganza.

Language

Arabic is Algeria's primary and official language and is spoken by around 82% of the populace. The French colonialism has resulted in French being the second language of many educated Algerians, and English is rarely spoken. There are also many ethnic groups in the country that also speak different dialects of Berber.

During the French regime, Algerian culture was by and large suppressed in an attempt by the colonizers to replace it with their own. However, since independence, the government has made an effort to strengthen the native Arabic, Berber, and Algerian culture.

As is often the case in other countries, Algerian Arabic is somewhat different to the Arabic commonly spoken in other parts of the world. The language has been greatly influenced by Berber, Turkish and French from which it has many borrowed words. It also has a much more simplified vowel system. There are quite distinct local variations of Arabic in the various parts of Algeria.

Daily newspapers are published in both Arabic and French.

If someone visits the country, the person might find it helpful to speak French, which is at least understood by many Algerians.

Modern Algerian Literature

Modern Algerian literature, split between Arabic and French, has a strong influence of the country's recent history. Famous novelists of the twentieth century include Mohammed Dib, a Noble Prize winner Albert Camus, and Kateb Yacine, while the works of Assia Djebar and Ahlam Mustaghanmi reflecting women’s perspective about the contemporary life in Algeria are widely translated.

In spite of there being a divide between the French and Arabic literature, Algeria has given birth to some of the most renowned writers in the world. Algeria counts among its literary stars both French writers who lived and wrote in Algeria like Albert Camus and Emmanuel Robles as well as native Algerians, some of whom have chosen to write in the colonial language, such as playwright Kateb Yacine, and some of whom wrote in Arabic or Berber dialects.

There are several famous Arabic and French writers some of them are Rachid Mimouni, Tahar Djaout, Jacques Derrida, Malek Ben Nabi and Frantz Fanon known for their thoughts against decolonization. Saint Augustine of Hippo was born in Tagaste (modern-day Souk Ahras) whereas Ibn Khaldun, though born in Tunis, wrote the Muqaddima while staying in Algeria.

The Algerian Art

Algeria’s art is a store of the richest and vivid artworks largely found in the famous Art Galleries and bustling markets of Algeria. They contain intricately woven handicrafts, fascinating paintings, antiques and lively sculptures that reveal extraordinary talent and skills of the Algerian artists. One can find awe- inspiring masterpieces in the National Gallery of Fine Arts and can get enchanted by the works of eminent artists such as Renoir and Mohammed Khadda, and local artists like Racim and Yelles.

Musical Genre

The Algerian musical genre best known abroad is Rai (from Arabic ray, meaning “opinion” or “view”), a pop-flavoured, opinionated take on folk music, featuring international stars such as Khaled and Cheb Mami. In Algeria itself the style of Rai remains the most popular, but the older generation still prefers Chaabi which is very popular with stars such as El Hadj El Anka and Dahmane El Harrachi making their mark at the local music scene.

The tuneful melodies of Kabyle music, exemplified by Idir, Ait Menguellet, or Lounès Matoub, also have a wide audience. For more classical tastes, Andalusi music, brought from Al-Andalus, is preserved in many older coastal towns. Sharawi music is also very popular in the south of Algeria with renowned singers as Khelifi Ahmed, Ababsa and Mnai.

The Algerian Government has institutionalized seven annual festivals of local and regional music in order to contribute to the promotion and revival of local music in Algerian cities and villages.

The Algerian poetic and musical genre, the Ahellil of Gourara, was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in 2005.

Painting

Painting is not new to Algerian soil. Thousands of engravings on rocks in the Tassili region vouch for this art being practiced since the Neolithic era. Algerian painters such as Racim, master of miniature and illuminator arts, thereafter defined contours of Algerian painting.

 

Another artistic movement known as expressionism was born and taken to its highest level Issiakhem and Bachir Yelles.

Cinema

Algeria has maintained a lively film industry. The first major postcolonial production was the celebrated film produced in 1965 (The Battle of Algiers), a story about Algeria’s struggle for independence from the French colonial rule. Depicting the real face of the oppressor in documentary style, this film won several international awards.

The following year, Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina directed Rih al-Awras (The Winds of the Aures). His chronicle of the Years of Fire in 1975 (Chronicle of the Year of Embers), another gritty tale of the revolution, was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival nearly a decade later. Vivre au Paradis (1997; Living in Paradise) directed by Boualem Guerdjou showing difficulties of the Algerian Diaspora in France was a big hit. With over 175 productions or co-productions, international acclaim and a talented potential, Algerian cinema has all assets for a bright future.

Handicrafts

Algeria has a thriving handicrafts industry. From carpets to ceramics and pottery, from leather to glass work and silverwork, the country has a tremendous variety of skills that produce goods which are sold in many other countries.  The country is also famous for its M’Zab carpets and Kabyle jewellery.

Algerian crafts are unique and vibrant in colour. The craftsmen are extremely talented and their skills cover a wider market than just that of carpets and pottery. Wooden sculptures, weaving, basket making, and jewellery design is an art and a tradition that has been passed through many generations of Algerian artisans. Not only is the craft industry a form of income and employment, but an expression of Algeria’s rich culture, rituals and proverbs.

The carpets that are woven by the Algerian women, are unique to the area they live in. Each carpet displays certain characteristics and features that make these carpets one of a kind. For nomadic Algerians, their tents and carpets are an important part of their lifestyle and both are as important as the other to their owners.

Leather work and craft is also an import part of the Algerian craft industry, as Belgha or slippers that are made by these craftsmen are still a favorite purchase by locals and tourists and are in high demand in other countries. The beautifully handcrafted and decorated leather can be seen on shields and weapons, and the manufacturing of leather wallets, handbags and saddles have become increasingly popular.

The traditional crafts such as carpets, pottery, metal craft and leather work are an important income to the country. The breathtaking color, detail and effort that goes into each product lends itself to the fascination and interest of the Algerian craft industry and craeyes enthusiasm in export industry.