Algiers / Algeria

Algeria is a country that has produced numerous people who have found fame in France and other parts of Europe, such as the football player Zinedine Zidane, the Formula One drivers the Schumacher brothers, singers Cheb Khaled and Cheb Mami and actress Isabelle Adjani. It is not widely known, but the father of the Schumacher brothers is Algerian and their mother is German. Albert Camus, the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, was also born in Algeria. In his novel The Outsider, the protagonist Meursalt says that the reason he killed the Arab was "because of the sun." As this suggests, Algeria has a Mediterranean climate. With four distinct seasons, mountains and seas, it is the perfect place for a summer vacation.

Algeria was a French colony for 132 years from 1830 to 1962 when it became independent, so the tremendous influence of France can be seen in many places, such as the language and in the legal and other systems. It is believed that several million Algerians have immigrated to France, and they tend to occupy flights from France to Algeria during the vacation season between June and September.

Arabs make up 75% of the population, with the remaining 25% accounted for by the Berbers, who have lived there from very early times and speak their own language. Among the Berbers, the Kabyle have an appearance that is more Western. The beauty of their women is legendary. Although Algeria is an Islamic country, it produces wine. Algeria produces a full-bodied red wine called "The President's Wine," which has absorbed a lot of sun and goes beautifully with the traditional cuisine, couscous.

Algerians are slightly nervous people, but are fond of talking. Once you become good friends, you are often amazed at their kindness and openness. In a positive sense they are flexible, although in the negative sense they can be unreliable. That seems to apply to local companies and people. There is not much entertainment and watching overseas TV, especially French, is the main form of entertainment for ordinary Algerians. Since there are satellite dishes everywhere, they can receive programs from 500 stations all over the world.

You may have the impression that Algeria is "a distant paradise" rather than "the far end of the world" as in the old song. But please do visit here at least once to see it for yourself.

View from the city center View from the fish market Casbah

Marubeni Group magazine "M-SPIRIT" VOL.22 (July, 2004)