Tizi Ouzou – The 18th edition of the Ath Yenni Jewelry Festival opened on Thursday at the “Larbi Mezani” middle school in southeastern Tizi Ouzou, honoring the martyr Larbi Marouf, a native of this mountainous region and the maker of rank insignias for the National Liberation Army.
According to testimonies from his daughter, Noura, and the president of the festival’s organizing committee, Sami Sharat, Larbi Marouf was born on January 27, 1904, in the village of Ath Larbaa (Ath Yenni). He was among the first traditional jewelry craftsmen to answer the call of the National Liberation Army, offering his expertise for the revolution.
Following the Soummam Conference on August 20, 1956, which established a military rank system, Marouf began crafting silver shoulder insignias for the National Liberation Army. His secret activities were discovered by French occupation forces, leading to his capture, according to the same sources.
The French colonial army discovered Marouf’s activities after his son-in-law was killed in action, found with shoulder insignias and a handwritten letter by Marouf. Consequently, Marouf was arrested and imprisoned in the old Ath Yenni prison, now the “Larbi Mezani” middle school, which currently hosts the jewelry festival.
A few days after being subjected to torture, Marouf, who had crafted the shoulder insignia for Colonel Amirouche Ait Hamouda, succumbed to his severe injuries on July 10, 1958.
During the opening of the 18th edition of the festival, Marouf’s family, represented by his daughter Noura, was awarded the Silver Star, an honor the festival organizers have been bestowing for years to notable figures from the Ath Yenni region.
This year’s edition of the Ath Yenni Jewelry Festival features 138 artisans, including 109 jewelers from the Ath Yenni area. The remaining participants are craftsmen from various traditional industries, such as basket weaving, tanning, copperware, pottery, silk painting, and traditional soap making.
Participants hail from around 15 provinces, in addition to Tizi Ouzou, including Tamanrasset, Tipaza, Tlemcen, Bejaia, El Kala, Ouargla, and Medea.
The ongoing event, running until July 27, provides artisans an opportunity to address issues such as the lack of raw materials, particularly coral and silver.
Mr. Sharat called on relevant authorities to establish a raw materials support fund and a solidarity fund for jewelers to ensure the continuity of this ancient craft and art form.
During the inauguration of the event, the secretary-general of the province, Miloud Felahi, assured the artisans of the necessary support to preserve this craft, which is part of a broad array of Algerian traditional trades, noting that Ath Yenni jewelry has gained international acclaim.
