International Colloquium in Béjaïa to Commemorate 70th Anniversary of Soummam Congress
An international colloquium, titled “Culture of Resistance between History, Memory, and Imagination,” is scheduled to take place in Béjaïa from August 18 to 20. Organized by the High Commission for Amazighity in partnership with the Ministry of Mujahideen and Rights Holders, the Directorate General of National Archives, and the National Committee for History and Memory, this significant academic and historical event commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Soummam Congress, which occurred on August 20, 1956. The colloquium is being held under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, with support from the services of Béjaïa province.
The colloquium aims to re-examine the concept of “culture of resistance” through its historical, symbolic, and mnemonic dimensions. It will delve into the intricate relationship between history, memory, and imagination in shaping Algeria’s national narrative, with a particular focus on the Algerian experience and its various stages of resistance and struggle against colonialism. This initiative underscores efforts to preserve the national memory, safeguard the historical legacy of the revolution and its emblematic figures, and ensure the transmission of this rich heritage to younger generations.
Bringing together a distinguished assembly of historians, academics, and researchers from both Algeria and abroad, the gathering will explore resistance as a liberating act and a profound human and cultural process. Discussions will highlight its role in forging the Algerian collective consciousness and solidifying values such as freedom, national sovereignty, and human dignity. Participants will also analyze the integration of revolutionary field action, institutional political decisions, and symbolic production, while fostering comparative perspectives on liberation struggles worldwide to enrich scientific research and deepen understanding of anti-colonial movements and their trajectories.
