Algiers – At the 2024 Algiers International Book Fair (SILA), participants in a commemorative event for martyr poets called for the valorization of resistance poetry written before and during Algeria’s War of Independence, recognizing it as a “revolutionary literary heritage” that is central to Algeria’s history.
In his remarks during the event, poet and critic Ali Malahi emphasized Algeria’s possession of a significant literary legacy that reflects the Algerian people’s resistance to French occupation. Malahi, a professor at the University of Algiers, argued that these texts deserve renewed appreciation and should be reintegrated into the country’s cultural landscape, as their authors documented a defining period in Algeria’s past.
Malahi highlighted influential figures such as Moufdi Zakaria, author of the national anthem “Qassaman,” and poets Mohamed Al-Aid Al-Khalifa, Rabah Bouchama, and Mohamed Chebboqi, whose iconic poem “Our Algeria, Land of the Ancestors” captured the suffering of the Algerian people under colonial rule. He noted that these poets fought for freedom and independence with “both the pen and the sword,” advocating for the preservation of this historical and revolutionary literary heritage due to its invaluable significance.
Academic and literary critic Faisal Hassid also addressed the sacrifices of Palestinian poets who, like their Algerian counterparts, used both words and weapons to resist occupation. Hassid mentioned poets like Abd al-Rahim Mahmoud, Salim Al-Naffar, and Hiba Abu Zeid, whose poetry became a “national and global act of resistance.” He added that poets like Ibrahim Touqan, Mahmoud Darwish, and Samih al-Qasim played a major role in producing politically significant work, portraying the suffering and resilience of the Palestinian people as they continued their fight for freedom and independence.
As part of this year’s SILA, the “Palestine Pavilion” is hosting cultural and literary events tied to the Palestinian cause, including themed discussions on resistance literature in both Palestinian and Algerian poetry.
The 27th edition of SILA runs until November 16 at the Algiers Exhibition Palace, featuring a diverse program of cultural activities marking the 70th anniversary of Algeria’s November 1, 1954 Revolution. Events include talks and discussions on literature, heritage, history, and cinema.
For more details, visit DZWATCH.DZ.
Author: Nor-Eleslam
Algeria, SILA 2024, Revolutionary Poetry, Palestinian Literature, Cultural Heritage
