Tassili N’Ajjer Site Celebrated at Djanet Festival

Djanet will host the first edition of the International Festival of Rock Art in Algeria from October 19 to 24. Organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Arts, this cultural, scientific, and artistic event is designed to emphasize the richness of the national rock art heritage and reinforce efforts towards its protection, study, and valorization, particularly in the southern regions of the country.

The festival carries significant importance due to Algeria's exceptional rock art sites, most notably Tassili N'Ajjer, which is recognized as one of the world's foremost locations for rock art. Thousands of paintings and engravings at Tassili N'Ajjer provide insights into the social, economic, and spiritual lives of populations that inhabited the region over millennia. The event also seeks to showcase the broad diversity of rock art expressions found across various parts of Algeria, especially within cultural parks, thereby positioning the country as a crucial area for the study of human history and evolution.

The program includes an international scientific meeting dedicated to the study and preservation of rock art heritage, alongside thematic exhibitions highlighting the varied rock art from different regions. Additionally, a forum involving stakeholders in site protection and exploitation will be held, complemented by archaeological film days and an artistic residency for fine arts students in Djanet. Organizers aspire for the festival to become an annual scientific and cultural gathering that facilitates the presentation of research findings, the exchange of expertise on preservation methods, and the promotion of sustainable cultural and exploration tourism for Algeria's major rock art sites.