Algerian Literature or Algerianism was a widely appreciated and lauded movement from the colonial era to the late 80s. Writers such as Malek Benabi, Kateb Yacine, Mohamed Dib and Rachid Boudjedra had shaped a postcolonial movement that was a combination of the Algerian Identity and its culture with a remarkable influence of the French way of thinking. These writers and poets were all acquainted and not through the spirit of competition but of collaboration and a collective purpose to contribute to the human growth. They were humanist in spirit and Algerianist in their pen. However, nowadays Algerian Poetry is coming to a state of declinism and that due to several reasons that we will try to point out in this article.
Nowadays there is a short spread of the Slam Movement through endeavors that tries to pierce the surface through some events that occur in order to make the movement popular rather than contribute in the human growth and advancement. In my recent, collaboration with some Algerian Slammers I noticed that their behavior is less modest and goal-oriented which means that if we are to reflect the personality on their travail, they all have a spirit of competition even between each other and are rarely concerned about human growth or have a literary background behind their words. Some are in there only for the purpose of raising their commercial value and acquiring more fame and opportunities which is more self-centered than goal-oriented, without a glimmer of mannerism or innovation, they unconsciously contribute to this declinism through their unconsciously selfish behavior.
From another side Algerian poetry is mainly known either through Algerian Rap. From my own perspective, I believe that this latter have a lot of elements of Algerianism since the texts include a common-feeling and a lot of modesty and familiarity with each other and went to the length of creating a “Rap Game” in order to compete with each other only through rules and guidelines in respect to the collective masculine values. Moreover, their common aim is not only to share their experience for a commercial purpose but rather to provide solutions for the listeners. In this view, their approach is goal-oriented and less self-centered. Zahham a growing Algerian rapper with a lot of skill and innovation says the following:
“Algerian rappers nowadays can easily fall in the category of commercial artists, they take their inspiration from the western world that is vacant of any Algerian values and full of commercial bullshit. There is a lack of poetic efforts in their words. Whereas some rappers do indeed take their work passionately and will invest on bringing something original to the rap movement. Despite their lack of financial support, these are the ones who come to make a name in the end, since as me we want to provide solutions for our hardships in order to help the listeners in their lifepath, not more not less”
In the current times, some Algerian writers might endeavor to be published in order to let their words be known. Whereas some writers might possess a literary background and an awareness of what they’re doing with specific goals that aims to contribute to the growth of Algerian literature, others are in there for the social name and to attract more opportunities. However, both will face what is called in the Western publishing market “Vanity Press Publishing houses”. It is important to know that publishing houses are supposed to buy the rights of publication and invest on a book only if they find it praiseworthy. However, current publishing houses might not even read the book and will jump directly to the contract in order simply to acquire money from the author. This makes Algerian Literature more commercial than value-based.
On the other hand, classical publishing houses at some occasions might offer to buy the rights of publication if they deem to find the book profiting yet when it comes to the distribution part, they’d rather limit the libraries that they distribute to in order to share the profits with the librarian. From my own perspective, I believe that Algerian literature is in decline because editors do not invest on Digital Marketing. Not due to their commercial strategy but because they are ignorant when it comes to digitality and e-commerce. They can however, invest on a community manager but they would acquire less money and might loose their financial partnership under the table with librarians.
In conclusion, Algerian Poetry is torn between corruption and self-centerism. Between innovation and egoistic interests. Between professionalism and opportunism. Yet, we’ll always find some poets who write for their passion only and will publish daily poems through their Instagram without wanting to take part in this corruptive bazaar. If only we can give time to learn from our ancestor writers who had a level of thinking that imposed the Algerian name to all of the western world and middle east. Perhaps we should re-educate ourselves and learn rather than stay proud in our ignorance. These traits of close-mindness and egoism are the root of all literary corruption, inwards and outwards.
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