From a refugee film festival to an international rock festival, Algerian festivals are definitely not to be missed!
Where ever you visit festivals, they are considered to be a representation of the cultural identity and values of a country, and Algeria is no different. Check out these three Algerian festivals, and if you get the chance, visit them. Without doubt you’ll have an awesome time and better understand Algeria’s deep and vibrant past.
Sahara International Film Festival
Also known as the FiSahara, it it the only film festival in the world to take place in a refugee camp. Taking place deep in the intense heat every summer of the Sahara desert, near the border with Western Sahara, the event is now in its 13th year. The winning directors of this unique human rights film and culture festival receive a white camel as the prize, which is traditionally given to the refugee family who hosted them during the festival.
This year’s festival will be attended by thousands of Sahrawis and hundreds of international visitors. This is the most important date in the Refugee calendar.
The Sahrawi people
The festival also holds very special important for the Sahrawi people, who reside in the refugee camp due to them being forced out of their native lands of Western Sahara. Not only providing cultural entertainment but also educational opportunities for the Sahrawi people to take advantage of.
Now in their 38th year of exile from their native land, the festival empowers and entertains refugees from the Western Sahara
What Is On Offer At The Film Festival?
- Oscar-nominated documentaries from all over the world.
- Films about the region and some made by Sahrawi refugees.
- Audiovisual and video workshops are on offer for refugees to develop their own movies.
Timgad International Music Festival
Come and get your rock on in the Timgad International Music Festival! This festival has a massive variety of musical genres, from international rock music to Rai (Algerian folk music). It takes place in the city of Timgad every July and lasts for a week. Timgad is also a world heritage site, so there is plenty to see if you want to have a break from the music.
Full of North African Culture
Celebrating the country gaining independence, it is now in it’s 41st edition. The festival takes place in two place in two stages where for the first week, 12 singers lead the evening’s entertainment, accompanied by a North African arts and crafts show. The festival finishes around the 25th, as it moves to the surrounding cities such as Batna to continue the festivities.
A music stage for the festival
Festival of du Rai d’Oran
Oran a city located on the coast close to Algiers is one of the major birthplaces of Rai music. The city due to an influx of Spanish, French and Arabic visitors in the 1930’s became a place synonymous with fun and a more open-minded way of living. A type of upbeat folk music called Rai grew out of this more progressive way of thinking, as Bedouin Shepherds and even women (”Cheikas”) started to sing about delicate topics such as love and alcohol.
The festival of du Rai d’Oran is held every August and is celebrated throughout the city of Oran. There are plenty of stages through out the city, justifying just how important Rai is to Algerian culture. The event draws national and local artists in a celebration of this distinct musical genre.
Here is an upbeat song from Cheb Mami, who is a major player in the Rai scene.
