Tag: culture

  • El Oued Museum

    El-Oued in Algeria is often referred to as the "Pearl of the Sahara" or the "City of a Thousand Domes", and visitors to this picturesque oasis town soon come to appreciate why. With its domed whitewashed buildings surrounded by date palms and greenery, El-Oued in the Saharan Algeria Region of the country is a popular tourist destination. The El-Oued Museum (Musée d’El Oued) located in the ...

  • Currency

    Whenever you travel to another country, whether for business or for pleasure, you will inevitably need to familiarize yourself with the currency being used in that country. Not only will you need to determine where the various exchange points are and what sort of travel currency - such as travelers checks and credit cards - is available, but you will also need to get an idea of how much ...

  • History

    The French Period (1830-1962)Algeria became a colony of France shortly after French military forces invaded the country in 1830 and, for most of the succeeding 130 years, it was a fully-fledged department of the French Republic. During this period significant numbers of people emigrated from France to live in Algeria's cities; in some cases they actually outnumbered the locals and became ...

  • Oran

    Oran is perhaps most famous for being one of the birthplaces of the rai music style. This inventive form of music is one of the more modern music styles that is popularly enjoyed in the various parts of Algeria and all over the world. The easy going and liberal atmosphere that pervades the city of Oran is clearly evident in this style of music. Initially performed only by men, it soon became ...

  • Batna

    Batna is the name of both a city and a province in north eastern Algeria. Although the origin of the name is unknown, most historians agree that it is a mixture of arabo-berberian and can be loosely translated into "where we sleep this night". Geographically speaking, Batna is located between the north and south Atlas Mountains and this means that the mountains rise on either side to form a ...

  • Literature

    Algeria's literature has been largely influenced by the ancient Romans, the Arabs, French, Spanish and indigenous tribes. Contemporary Algerian literature shows a strong divide between French and Arabic. Many well-known and widely translated literary figures have come out of Algeria, including poets, novelists, essayists and playwrights. Algerian literary works will give you great insight ...

  • Music

    When foreigners think of Algerian music, the first genre that springs to mind is rai. Rai music of Algeria has been met with great enthusiasm in France and other European countries. Algeria's music history was largely based on styles from Andalusia that were given a more African feel. Nuubaat music is a combination of already existing music that had a strong Ottoman influence. Hawzii and ...

  • Proverbs

    Proverbs are brief sayings that are used frequently and often express a simple truth or perception. Algerian proverbs can give you great insight into the culture, views, opinions, customs and life of the population. As with all cultures, proverbs form an integral part of Algerian speech and add a sprinkling of color to any conversation. Why not learn a few proverbs from Algeria? You are ...