Monday, August 25, 2008

Oppression in the Arab Muslim world, Algeria: Kabylia

Algerian's songs of defiance live onSince his killing, he has become voice for Berber minorityBy Michael Slackman Published: MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2005TIZI OUZOU, Algeria: High in the jagged mountains covered with olive and fig trees, his voice booms from a minivan as it twists along narrow winding roads to drop off students after a day of school.

Head down into this city and there he is again, this time larger than life, in a poster mounted on a café wall while, of course, his voice booms from the stereo behind the counter. In shops, offices, restaurants - everywhere in this region, it seems - is the voice of Lounes Matoub.

"Never surrender, never surrender," he sings, strong and folksy.

"Of course times change, but you should never forget."

Someone tried to silence Matoub on June 25, 1998; his car was sprayed with 79 bullets. Instead, he became in death a powerful symbol of defiance for an ethnic minority that has challenged the government's decision to define Algeria as an Arab nation.

This is Kabylia, one of Algeria's most restive regions - home to a stubborn and proud ethnic minority of Berbers who since the end of the colonial era four decades ago have fought to preserve their cultural identity and independence. While there have been politicians and village elders helping lead the fight, the soul of this struggle is captured in music, especially the music of Matoub...http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/10/news/algeria.php

Amazigh-Voice.com [Amazigh News - Amazigh Events - Amazigh Art] "Tell the world that we have risen up against the oppression of the government." (demonstrator in Bejaia, Kabylia, Algeria) ... http://www.amazigh-voice.com/the%20world.htm

Towards the end of the colonial arabic islamic tyranny in North ...Nov 29, 2007 ... The Arabic Islamists terrorists invaded North Africa and succeeded to control ... racism, or post-colonial nationalistic self-determinism. ... http://www.kabylia.info/observer/spip.php?article112

When will the Arabic-Islamic colonialism end? - Kabylia Info Centuries and centuries of oppression, persecution, exploitation, murders, destruction and falsification have deprived this “redoubtable and numerous” ... http://www.kabylia.info/letters/when-will-the-arabic-islamic-colonialism-end.html

...the question which needs an urgent answer is how an oppressed people such as Kabylians can manage to put an end to the devastating insecurity and anarchy when their despotic and tyrannical government uses them to maintain itself in power? http://www.kabylia.info/north-africa/for-a-federal-system-guaranteeing-provincial-autonomy.html

The Strategies of the Algerian regime to subdue Kabylia - Kabylia ...Sep 28, 2007 ... Kabyle politicians and the Kabyles at large, both in Algeria and in the ... where there is nation-state oppression of regional cultures. ... http://www.kabylia.info/observer/spip.php?article108




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