Algeria’s culture, just like the culture of any other country, reflects many fascinating traits inherited by it from its recent historical past. It is primarily dominated by religion, which is actively breathed in by Algerian people. Actually, it is a blend of religion, music, language spoken, rich literature that forms the culture of Algeria.
Religion: Religion is a very significant part of life in Algeria. Sunni Islam is the major religion in Algeria followed by Christianity as the secondary, with other minority religious groups taking the bottom position. From influencing the day-to-day customs to affecting social and cultural behavior to instilling the values that shape identity and give meaning to life, religion plays a remarkable role that cannot be neglected.
Going back into Algeria’s recent past, one can know about the disputes the socialist government had with the Islamic community. After being suppressed by the government in the period between 1960’s and 1970’s, Islam revived again in 1980’s, instigated by vigorous Muslim opposition. Therefore even today, Algeria can be seen under tension, adjusting itself to attain balance between modern secular beliefs and preserved Muslim traditions,
Language: The language widely spoken in Algeria is Arabic, which can also be said as native or local language. About 82% of the population speaks Arabic and the rest speaks French and Berber dialects. Language has remained a very sensitive issue in Algeria. This is due to the colonization of French for 130 years, which has resulted in French being commonly used for University teaching and commercial purposes.
Art: Algeria’s art is a store of the richest and vivid artworks largely found in famous Art Galleries and bustling markets of Algeria. They contain intricately woven handicrafts, fascinating paintings, antiques and lively sculptures that reveal extraordinary aptitude of the Algerian artists. One can find awe-inspiring masterpieces in the National Gallery of Fine Arts and can get amused by the works of eminent artists such as Renoir and Mohammed Khadda, and local artists like Racism and Yelles.
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