Literature

Modern Algerian literature, split between Arabic and French, and it has been strongly influenced by the country’s recent history. Famous novelists of the twentieth century include Mohammed Dib, and Kateb Yacine, while Assia Djebar is widely translated. Among the important novelists of the 1980s were Rachid Mimouni, and Tahar Djaout.

In philosophy and the humanities, Malek Bennabi and Frantz Fanon are noted for their thoughts on decolonization; Augustine of Hippo was born in Tagaste (modern-day Souk Ahras); and Ibn Khaldun, though born in Tunis, wrote the Muqaddimawhile staying in Algeria. Algerian culture has been strongly influenced by Islam, the main religion. The works of the Sanusi family in pre-colonial times, and of Emir Abdelkader and Sheikh Ben Badis in colonial times, are widely noted.

Traditional Music and Instruments