There is a particular way Algerians measure cooking ingredients, especially before a large feast. Although, mind you, it is exercised in a bit of everything. In the way that kindness supersedes self-profit, when a visitor can’t resist a fine piece of silver at the Casbah of Algiers of Alger Centre. Perhaps that’s why I returned to this image that I captured, many years ago. And if the picture is not yet quite clear for you, an internet search will tellRead more
Poem
1st November, 2024 And when they ask who defended you Tell them it was your elders His uncle and his uncle’s uncle The neighbour’s middle child Those up above And down below However long the earth spun 1 million and 1 And if I’m their daughter Why should it be cumbersome Image: Algiers horizon and Maqam ShahidRead more
Poem
5th July, 2024 | For future lovers, fathers, grandfathers, nephews and brothers – a letter from Algerian women to Algerian men who don’t remember: Don’t you remember? I hope you remember Me on the terrace In ululation for freedom And they came And they went And they pointed guns! And they could have taken us… But we stretched our vocal chords wider, and we stretched them perpendicular Like a she-wolf howls at the Harvest moon Except this was our moon!Read more
Poem
If I was to describe Medinah | It would be like sitting down Taking a rest A prayer Breath work The pause at a bench A warm bath A loved ones hug Smiling at the sun Scenic palm trees on a road trip Beautiful views A midnight swim Writing a good line A deep sigh Getting under the cover and slipping off socks A sweet memory Relief from summer heat as our soles touch the cold marble surface A knowingRead more
Book
Recommended reading on the Black, Arab & Berber people and diversity of the Sahara | From the Atlas Mountains in the Sahara to the Hoggar plateau, there was a huge desert, where a traveller could see vast areas of land covered by sand: the sand alternated with rocks in many areas of the desert. The sand dunes were at times as high as two hundred metres: the powerful desert storms from the north east along the Gassis corridor contributed immenselyRead more
Photograph
Algiers Series | Timimoun Connections | A young boy orders some snacks from the tea hotspot in central Algiers. Customers are plenty at this favourite snack hut in the heart of the capital. Friendly chat is exchanged as people wait for their orders of fresh mint tea. The tea shop resembles a hole in the wall but one that is not easily missed. In a box-like store in the wall, a window allows passersby to peer in from the sidewalkRead more
Photograph
Marrakech Series | Musical Chairs | An impromptu tour of the Kasbah leads me back to questions around the nature of North African street socials. It has been a thing and continues to be a thing since the region’s pre and post colonial liberation periods. Men drag their wooden stools and ideas from corner to corner in pursuit of a conversation. They speak of politics and daily struggles, family woes and causes for celebration. Depending on cultural and religious etiquette,Read more
Book
Recommended reading on poets that speak hybrid languages: bint il neel I no surprise it was your father started it taught you allah’s word and said sing daughter sing a bird you sang from your belly to soar over all of egypt in the delta’s villages muwlads weddings ramadan breakfasts you flew your voice no surprise it was god started it put a burning in your mouth and said open up and sing you were young and a novelty voiceRead more
Photograph
Sti Fatma Series | The Very Real Side of Tourist Entertainment | My mother and I find ourselves serenaded bank side of a waterfall footpath as we tuck into lunch in the middle of a hiking excursion of the Sti Fatma mountains. The sound is upbeat and airy, with the thud of the bendir (frame drum) played by the gentlemen on the right. In full traditional attire (or Djelleba as they call it locally in most Moroccan regions) he nodsRead more
Yasmine Bendjoudi 