Algiers – The historic “Dar El Bachtarzi” in Algiers was reopened on Friday, marking the revival of a cultural landmark where, in the 1920s, iconic figures like Mahieddine Bachtarzi and El Hadj M’Hamed El Anka once practiced their craft. The reopening ceremony featured a performance by Andalusian singer Mohamed Hadj Ali.
Located in the lower Casbah of Algiers, “Dar El Bachtarzi” is now under the management of the Arts and Culture Foundation of the Algiers Province. The venue, situated on the left waterfront of the Ketchaoua Mosque on Rue des Frères Ouslimani, has been fully restored by the Algiers Province authorities and is now set to become a vibrant meeting place for artists.
Fodil Hamouche, the head of programming at the managing foundation, explained that the reopening is part of a broader effort by the Algiers Province to rehabilitate and valorize the cultural and historical heritage of the capital, particularly the ancient Casbah.
The venue will also host various exhibitors in traditional crafts and artisanal works, in collaboration with the Chamber of Traditional Crafts and Trades.
The opening night featured a captivating performance by Mahmoud Hadj Ali, leader of the Mosuliya ensemble, along with banjo player Krimo Magzevan, violinist Hicham Hassani, oud player Karim Cheikh, percussionist Sofiane Haddad, and tar player Fouad Tebib. The audience enjoyed a one-and-a-half-hour concert featuring Nuba Sika and several classics of the Hawzi genre.
The evening also honored Mahieddine Bachtarzi, sparking discussions about his extraordinary contributions to culture and history.
Mahieddine Bachtarzi (1897-1986) was born in the Casbah of Algiers and became a prominent figure in the arts from the 1920s. Initially a muezzin and Andalusian singer, he recorded 60 albums by the age of 24 and held numerous concerts in Algiers before embarking on an international tour. In 1923, he took over the musical ensemble “Al-Motribia,” dedicated to preserving Andalusian musical heritage.
Recognizing the limitations of music as a medium for communication under colonial rule, Bachtarzi shifted his focus to theater in the 1930s, collaborating with figures like Allalou (Ali Sellali) and Rachid Ksentini. In 1947, alongside Mustapha Kateb, he staged weekly theatrical performances at the Algiers Opera (now the National Algerian Theatre), integrating numerous young talents, many of whom later joined the National Liberation Front’s artistic troupe and contributed significantly to post-independence Algerian theater and cinema.
Bachtarzi’s career was marked by numerous artistic successes, establishing him as a leading figure in the burgeoning cultural scene of the time, a legacy that endures today.
“Dar El Bachtarzi” will continue to host artists every weekend, with Andalusian singer Karim Sammar and his ensemble scheduled to perform on Saturday evening.
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