AlgeriaBy: Nicole Tipton

SBU 3022Multicultural Presentation

FACT FILE

Official Name: People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

President: Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Capital: Algiers Assisted by Prime Minister: Ahmed Ouyahia

Official Religion: Islam Official Language: Arabic

Population: 36,649,000

Life Expectancy: Male 75.6 years; Female 77 years

Total Area (sq mi): 919,595 miles

Urban-rural population: Urban 66.5%Rural 33.5 %

Form of Government: Multiparty republic with two legislative bodies. Council of the National and National People’s Assembly

National Holiday: Revolution Day, November 1

Algerian Flag

Emblem

White- Peace

Green- Hope, joy and love

The color green and the red star on the Algerian flag is a traditional symbol of the state religion Islam.The hand of

Fatima, a traditional symbol of the region, appears in front of the Atlas Mountains, below the rising sun representing a new era. The buildings stand for industry and plants for agriculture.

Geographical Features•Algeria is in northern Africa

• Second largest country in Africa• Desert like climate• Covered mostly by the Sahara Desert• Contemporary Algerian novelist Assia Djebar named Algeria, “a dream of sand”

•Algeria is broken into 3 different regions

1. High Plateaus2. Tell 3. The Sahara

•90 percent of population lives along the fertile coastal area known as the Tell

ECONOMY

•Dominated by export of petroleum and natural gas.•Contributes to one-third of the country’s gross domestic product•Algeria ranks within the top countries in the world in terms of total gas reserves and export•Other industries include agriculture, construction, mining, and manufacturing. Commercial Activity

The center of commercial life in Algeria is the souk, large, open-air markets where farmers and craftspeople sell their products.

Other forms of IndustryAgriculture: Important crops are tobacco, olives, sorghum, millet, corn, rye, and rice. Some herds include cattle, goats, and sheep. Due to the climate stock and cultivating land is not well suited for the area.

Mining: Extensive deposits of high grade and medium grade iron ore have been mined from this region.

Manufacturing: Manufacturing in Algeria was made up primarily of food processing, textiles, cigarettes, and clothing before independence. Now the main focus is heavy industry.

•In 1977, only 42 percent of the population was literate, increased to 57 percent in 1990.• Before independence, the Algerian education system was based on the French model. • Since 1971 education was made free and mandatory for children between ages six and fifteen.• The education program stresses the study of the Arabic language as well as technical skills and math.• Three branches of secondary education:1. General2. Specialized3. Technical/Vocational

Goals for teaching students from Algeria

Environment—age appropriate literacy materials in English and the first languageExperiences—relevant and appropriate activities with expectations children can meetAssessment—continuous observation and appropriate alternative assessment practices to document progressCollaboration with Families—maintaining open communication and interactions with parents and familiesTeacher’s knowledge—practices on second language acquisition; knowledge about the child’s culture

CELEBRATIONSUSTOMS

• Ramadan- most celebrated of all holidays• Labor Day- May 1st

• Anniversary of the revolution over French control November 1

Two local festivals celebrated every spring-Cherry moussem in Tlemcen-Tomato moussem in Adrar

•Traditional values remain strong• Man is head of family and women are expected to be obedient and provide support to husband.• Men and women have separate societies, social interactions only occur between members of same gender.

The ArtsMusic:• Rai combines varying instrumentation with simple poetic lyrics. Popular Algerian singer of rai, Khaled, has exported music to Europe and the United States.• Wahrani is another type of music in Algeria, it blends rai with classical Algerian music

Authors:• Albert Camus- Noble Prize winner• Henri Krea- reflects his life growing up with a French father and an Algerian mother• Jean Amrouche- considered a foremost poet

Film:• The Battle of Algiers- first major postcolonial production (1965)

ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY

ISLAM

Does not believe in the Trinity, the Quran reads, “Say not “trinity”, Desist. It will be better for you. For God is One God. (4:171)

The Quran is considered the “unmediated” word of God, the Quran reads, “And this is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings and confirming which came before it.

No such thing as original sin. Don’t believe that one person would bear the sin of all people. Believes there is no need for salvation.

CHRISTIANITY

Matthew 28:19 reads, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Christians believe the Bible was written by humans under divine inspiration, All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

John 4:16 says, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Food• Exotic spices include saffron, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon• 3 foods of the Algerians1. Couscous- Algerian national dish2. Bread- no dish is complete without bread3. Mechoui- roasted whole lamb cooked on an outdoor

spit

• Favorite beverage is mint tea or fruit flavored milk drinks

Mealtime costumes• All meals are leisurely and sociable (3 times a day)• Seated at a low table• Food is eaten with thumb, forefinger, and middle

finger of the right hand

SourcesAlgeria. In Britannica online encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/15001/Algeria/46528

Camus, A. (1947). The plague. Librairie Gallimard. France.

Camus, A. (1942). The stranger. Vintage Books. New York.

Culture of algeria. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://everyculture.com/A-Bo/Algeria.html

Food in algeria. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.foodbycountry.com/Algeria-to-France/Algeria.html

Hossenally, R. Pottery. Retrieved from http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk/algeria/pottery- 96 on October 4, 2012.

Islam and christianity: A comparison. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.answering-islam.org/Intro/comparison.html on October 2, 2012.

Stanford, E. Culture of algeria. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/A- Bo/Algeria.html on September 25, 2012.

Study in algeria: Algeria educational system. (2012, April 08). Retrieved from http;//www.arabiancampus.com/studyinalgeria/edusys.htm