Algerian traditions have developed over many centuries. The native Algerians are “Berbers”. The Greeks coined the term for the tribes. It means Barbarians. The Berbers call themselves “Imazighen” (the free or free and noble men). They had seven major invasions after the ninth century BCE. For seven centuries, Carthaginians ruled; then came the Romans who ruled for six centuries. The Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Spaniards and Turks took turns ruling them for the last three centuries. The French were the last of the invaders. They ruled Algeria from 1830 until 1962. Traditions grow from the different influences of each culture.

Today there are four Berber groups. The only common denominator is their dialect. The Kabyles that came from the mountain area east of Algiers are the largest group. The Shawlysa of eastern Algeria, the Mozabites from the oasis area of central Algeria, and the Tuareg nomads of the deep south Saharan region are the four groups. All four of the group make up only 20 percent of today’s Algerian population.

The Berbers were a proud group of indigenous people who fought hard to resist the intruders. The only invaders who got a stronghold and influenced the Berbers were the Arabs. They arrived from the Arabian peninsula in the seventh century CE. This tribe of Sunni Arabs ruled until the eleventh century CE. The Berbers adopted Arabic language and most Berbers became Sunni Muslims. In the tribal context, the Berbers tribal customs and laws loosely followed the Koran. Each of the four tribes became “clannish”, which in turn, caused tensions among the groups. The tribes were patriarchal. The main thread throughout all Algeria is family honor. Women and men were separated by expectations. The contemporary Algerian expression came from this sexual separation, “Que la femme fasse le couscous, et nous la politique” (Let women make couscous, we’ll take care of politics).

The French colonization of Algeria was not an easy battle. The noble Berbers resisted the French up until Algeria’s independence in 1962. 

The Berbers population, as mentioned, is 20 percent of the population. The majority of the population is a mixture of Berber and Arabs. The “upper” classes (wealthier people) look down on the Berbers as well as the poor and rural citizens.

Traditions have slight differences among the minority Berber tribes and the majority Arabs and Arab-Berber population.

1. Religion:

* The majority of the citizens are Sunni Muslim. They celebrate the holy month of Ramadan.

2. Family

* The family is the main group. Honor and loyalty are the cardinal family rule. An individual represents the whole family.

Marriage

* In the smaller tribal communities of the Berbers, marriage to only those who were from the same extended family – endogamy

* The urban Arab-Berbers areas are not as restrictive.

The traditional Berber family allowed exogamy (marriage of first cousins).

There is a trend, however, in the larger cities to move away from exogeny.

* The Arab influence and the Islam religion allows polygamy, Algerians traditionally have been monogamous.

Divorce

* It is considered a “last resort”.

Courting or Obtaining a Spouse

*In traditional families, marriage is agreed to by both families.

* Fathers are decision-makers. Traditionally, it is the mother who plays the greater role in choosing the bride. The marriages used to be arranged. Today marriage is becoming a personal choice. The tradition is for the man to choose the woman to be his bride. He told his mother her name. His mother examines the woman’s family to see if it is a suitable match. If the family is suitable, she talks with the woman’s mother to see if the marriage can be arranged. If both families agree, the marriage takes place.

Family Structure

* Patriarchal lineal descent.

* Three generations make up the extended family. Grandfather is the head of the family.

Family Roles

Women as wives

-She is to be obedient to their parents and husbands.

-She is responsible for upbringing of their children.

-She is to participate in agricultural activities as befitting to a woman.

-She is to maintain her chastity before and after marriage.

Men

-Breadwinners

-Grandfathers are the ultimate patriarch.

-They have total control over all money matters.

-Sons are the sole beneficiaries of the family property.

These are the predominant traditions. As with all societies, traditions are slowly changing. Women are beginning to question their identity and place in society.