Algeria warms to Valentine's Day – slowly

[Al-khiyal]

[Al-khiyal]

Algeria warms to Valentine's Day – slowly

February 16, 2010 -- Algeria is gradually embracing the international celebration of love known as Valentine's Day, but social and economic barriers are keeping many local love-birds from forming and maintaining romances. For many Algerians, love is a constant battle. "So-called 'illegitimate couples' – that is, those who are not yet married – are viewed in a very dim light," Naima, a language student, told Magharebia. "You can't love someone openly; you have to hide all the time." But even couples who want to tie the knot have a tough time because of the housing shortage and chronic unemployment. Algerian rai singers have taken these heartaches and turned them into music. "The king of love songs, Cheb Hasni, was the person who sang best about life's difficulties and the housing crisis, which is preventing many couples from setting up homes altogether, and making love impossible," record dealer Mouloud told Magharebia in the centre of Algiers. "Not many young people can remained unmoved while listening to his music and thinking about their sweetheart." Mouloud maintained that such singers' popularity reflects the deep sentimentality of Algerians. "Underneath their macho exteriors, Algerian men are huge romantics. Records by Cheb Hasni, Nasro and Ait Menguellet always sell well because they talk about love. The singers say what young people don't dare to say. The new wave of rai singers is breaking more and more taboos, and young people seem to like that."

Singer-songwriter Hakim Ladjel said young Algerians are torn between tradition and modern ideas. "Love is not acknowledged – we don't express it," he told Magharebia, and said Algerians perpetuate "illusions" in regard to love. "People do experience and express love in Algeria, but this is an area fraught with inhibition and often repression," he added. "We live in a society that governs people's love lives in an extremely restrictive manner." To escape these restrictions, Algerian couples have been turning to cafes and restaurants, where young people can caress each other's hands over lemonade without fear. "These tea rooms actually put up signs saying 'Floors reserved for families', but everyone knows families never go there. It's just a euphemism that sums up the Algerian society," Sofiane, an engineer based in Algiers, told Magharebia. He once made the mistake of taking the signs at their word. "Once, I went to one with my brother. I was denied access," he said, laughing.

But other Algerians claim societal restrictions on openly pursued relationships have a purpose. "Men are not sincere," Karima, a housewife, said. "They go out with girls but marry their cousins, or girls carefully chosen by their mothers. It's important to save girls who might be led to make mistakes, especially since Algerian men are real smooth talkers." Her brother Abas had an even stronger opinion. "There's no way we can allow these young people to behave in a way that could undermine the principles defended by our society." But traditionalists can't stop the allure of the world-wide holiday of love, especially for florists. "The 14th of February, Valentine's Day, and the 8th of March, Women's Day, are the days when my sales peak," florist Ami Mahmoud told Magharebia at his shop on Rue Didouche. Algerian men, he added, are "hopeless romantics".

[Al-khiyal]