List of Algerians explained

Notable Algerians include:

Artists

See also: List of Algerian artists and List of Algerian women artists.

Actors

• Hadj Abderrahmane, actor and comedian^[1]
• Isabelle Adjani, French actress
• Allalou, playwright, theatre director, and actor known as the father of Algerian theater
• Mahieddine Bachtarzi, singer of opera (tenor), actor, writer, and director of the TNA (Théâtre National Algérien)
• Jean-Pierre Bacri, actor and screenwriter
• Ramzy Bedia, French-Algerian actor
• Leïla Bekhti, French-Algerian actress
• Alice Belaïdi, French-Algerian actress
• Catherine Belkhodja, French-Algerian actress
• M'hamed Benguettaf, actor and playwright
• Jean Benguigui, stage, screen, and television actor
• Dali Benssalah, actor in James Bond movie No Time to Die (2021)
• Biyouna, singer, actress and comedian
• Mohamed Bouchaïb, Libya-born Algerian actor
• Sofia Boutella, actress, model and dancer
• Rachida Brakni, French actress
• Patrick Bruel, singer, actor, and professional poker player
• Alain Chabat, actor and director
• Mohamed Chouikh, filmmaker
• Mohamed Fellag, actor and comedian
• Eva Green, actress and model
• Khaled Habib, singer-songwriter, composer, actor, film director
• Roger Hanin, film actor and director
• Marlène Jobert, actress, singer and author
• Reda Kateb, actor
• Sid Ali Kouiret, actor
• Rachid Ksentini, actor and comedian
• Karim Leklou, actor
• Maïwenn, actress, film director and producer
• Tahar Rahim, actor
• Rouiched, comedy actor
• Lyes Salem, actor and film director
• Samy Seghir, French-Algerian actor
• Hadj Smaine Mohamed Seghir, actor, director, and man of stage
• Smaïn, actor and humorist
• Patrick Timsit, comedian, writer, and film director
• Larbi Zekkal, actor and comedian

Directors and filmmakers

• Merzak Allouache, film director
• Abdelkader Alloula, theatre producer
• Jean-Luc Azoulay, television producer
• Yamina Benguigui, filmmaker
• Malek Bensmaïl, film director
• Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina, film director, Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Festival
• Ahmed Rachedi, film director–producer, pioneer of Algerian cinema
• Fatma Zohra Zamoum, film director

Fashion (designers, models)

• Loli Bahia, model
• Farida Khelfa, former model and actress

Illustrators

• Ali Dilem, editorial cartoonist
• Baya, painter
• Hocine Ziani, painter
• Le Hic, editorial cartoonist
• Rezki Zerarti, painter

New media

• Maurice Benayoun, artist and theorist
• Yves Saint Laurent (designer), clothing and fashion designer

Writers (including poets)

See also: List of Algerian women writers.

• Ferhat Abbas (1899–1985), political leader and essayist
• Mohamed Aïchaoui (1921–1959), political leader and journalist
• Abdelkader Alloula (1939–1994), playwright
• Al-Akhdari (1512 - 1575), Arab-Algerian poet, Alim, astronomer, jurist and logician of Sherifian descent
• Malek Alloula (1937–2015), poet, writer, and critic
• Djamal Amrani (1935–2005), poet and essayist
• Jean Amrouche (1906 - 1962), 20th-century poet and writer
• Taos Amrouche (1913 - 1976), singer and writer
• Apuleius (c. 125–c. 180 C.E.), Latin prose writer
• Mohammed Arkoun (born 1928), scholar and thinker
• Leila Djabali (born 1933)
• Zighen Aym (born 1957), writer and engineer
• Farida Belghoul (born 1958), author
• Omar Belhouchet (born 1954), journalist
• Albert Camus (1913–1960), journalist, author, philosopher
• Mohammed Benchicou (born 1952), director and publisher of the Algerian newspaper Le Matin
• Salah Benlabed (born 1950), architect, academic, novelist and poet
• Latifa Ben Mansour (born 1950), writer, psychoanalyst, and linguist
• Malek Bennabi (1905–1973), writer and philosopher
• Rachid Boudjedra (born 1941), poet, novelist, playwright and critic
• Mohamed Cherak, journalist
• Hélène Cixous, feminist writer
• Mohammed Dib (1920 - 2003), 20th-century writer
• Tahar Djaout (1954 - 1993), poet, journalist, critic
• Assia Djebar (1936–2015), novelist, translator and filmmaker
• Mouloud Feraoun (1913 - 1962), writer and independence war hero
• Mohamed Hassaïne (1945 - 1994), journalist
• Miloud Hmida (born 1961), poet, critic, translator
• Yasmina Khadra (also known as Mohamed Moulessehoul) (born 1955), writer
• Aïssa Khelladi, journalist, novelist and playwright
• Ahmed Mahsas (1923 - 2013), political leader and writer
• Fodil Mezali (born 1959), journalist and writer
• Hocine Mezali (born 1938), journalist and writer
• Rachid Mimouni (1945 - 1995), writer, poet
• Ahlam Mostaghanemi, writer
• Sarah Rivens, writer
• Othmane Senadjki (1959 - 2010), journalist
• Kateb Yacine (1929 - 1989), 20th-century writer
• Moufdi Zakaria (1908 - 1977), lyricist of the Algerian national anthem "Kassaman"
• Ahmed Ben Triki (1650-1750), Algerian poet from Tlemcen

Criminals

• Djamel Beghal, French Algerian convicted of terrorism
• Abdul Nacer Benbrika, found guilty of being the leader of a terrorist organisation
• Hamza Bendelladj, cyber-criminal also known as the "Smiling Hacker"
• Mokhtar Belmokhtar, sentenced to death for murder and terrorism
• Rédoine Faïd, French-Algerian bank robber and jailbreaker
• Slimane Khalfaoui, French-Algerian terrorist convicted of the Strasbourg cathedral bombing plot
• Ahmed Ressam, Algerian al-Qaeda member convicted of attempting to bomb the Los Angeles International Airport on New Year's Eve 1999
• Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, leader of the Algerian Islamic militant group Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb

Journalists

• Abdessami' Abdelhaï, journalist

Leaders and politicians

Ancient Algeria

• Juba I, 1st-century BC, king of Numidia under Roman rule
• Saburra, Numidian general
• Juba II, 1st-century BC, king of Numidia under Roman rule
• Naravas Numidian chief
• Jugurtha, 2nd-century BC, king of Numidia
• Zelalsen, king of the Massylii
• Ozalces, king of the Massylii
• Capussa, king of the Massylii tribe and brother to King Gaia
• Gala (king), king of the Massylii tribe
• Lacumazes, king of the Massylii tribe
• Syphax, king of the Massylii tribe
• Vermina, son of Sypbax and king of the Masaesyli tribe
• Archobarzane, last king of the Masaesylians
• Massinissa, 3rd-century BC, king of Numidia
• Micipsa, king of Numidia
• Gulussa, king of Numidia along with his two brothers
• Mastanabal, king of Numidia
• Adherbal, king of Numidia
• Hiempsal I, king of Numidia
• Gauda, Jugurtha's brother; a king of Numidia
• Iarbas, Gaetulian king
• Hiarbas, king, usurped the throne of Numidia
• Hiempsal II, son of Gauda and king of Numidia
• Masteabar, king of western Numidia
• Massinissa II, king of western Numidia
• Arabio, last independent king of Numidia
• Cleopatra Selene II, wife of juba II
• Ptolemy of Mauretania, last king of Mauretania
• Tacfarinas, leader of a rebellion against the Romans
• Firmus, Numidian prince and Roman usurper
• Gildo, Roman Berber general
• Macrinus, Roman emperor
• Pope Gelasius I, pope from 1 March 492 to his death in 496
• Quintus Lollius Urbicus, governor of Roman Britain
• Masuna, first recorded king of the Mauro-Roman Kingdom
• Mastigas, Masuna's successor
• John (Mauro-Roman king), Berber military leader
• Garmul, last recorded king of the Mauro Roman kingdom
• Masties, founder and first king of the Kingdom of the Aurès
• Iaudas, Berber leader and king of the Aurès
• Kusaila, last king of Altava who led a resistance against Islam
• Dihya, uncontested ruler of the whole Maghreb
• Tabat, Dihya's father

Early Islamic Algeria

• Abu Qurra, proclaimed caliph by the banu ifran Berber tribe; founder of the indigenous Berber Muslim movement of Kharijite tendencies in North Africa; founder of the Emirate of Tlemcen
• Sulayman ibn Abd-Allah, known as "Sulayman I of Tlemcen" – Emir of Tlemcen (786 / 7–813)
• Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustam, of Persian descent, founder of the Rustamid dynasty centered around Tiaret in modern-day Algeria
• Buluggin ibn Ziri, 10th-century emir; founder of the city of Algiers (Dzayer in Algerian Arabic refers to his father Ziri ibn Manad, founder of the Zirid dynasty)
• Hammad ibn Buluggin, founder and first Sultan of the Hammadid dynasty centered around Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad from 1008 to 1090, then Béjaïa from 1090 to 1152
• Abd al-Mu'min, first caliph and founder of the Almohad dynasty
• Yaghmurasen Ibn Zyan, founder and first sultan of the Zayyanid dynasty centered around Tlemcen in modern-day Algeria

Ottoman Algeria

• Hassan Agha, 16th-century Prince of Algiers; defeated Emperor Charles V in Algiers
• Baba Aruj, 16th-century corsair; leader of the Regency of Algiers
• Hayreddin Barbarossa, brother and successor of Aruj
• Rais Hamidou, Nicknamed 'Amir el Bihar' (leader of the seas), admiral and last great leader of the Algerian Navy, of Berber descent
• Zymen Danseker, Dutch privateer during the Eighty Years' War, became admiral of the Algerian fleet from 1600 to 1610. He is said to have introduced the round ship to the Algerians
• Sulayman Reis, Dutch privateer during the Eighty Years' War; later turned to the corsair activity swearing allegiance to the Sultan of Algiers and became an officer under Zymen Danseker

Algeria under French colonization

• Emir Abdelkader, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Mohamed ben Zamoum, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Hadj Ahmed Bey, last Bey of Constantine; fought the French Army during two sieges in 1836 and 1837
• Cheikh Boumerdassi, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Omar ben Zamoum, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Messali Hadj, Co-founder of "l'Etoile Nord-Africaine", the first Algerian Nationalist Party.
• Belkacem Radjef, Kabyle Co-founder of ENA with Messali Hadj and Amar Imache.
• Lalla Fatma N'Soumer, 19th-century female leader of the Kabyle resistance against the French
• Mohamed Seghir Boushaki, 20th-century leader of the Kabyle political resistance against the French
• Mohamed Deriche, 20th-century leader of the Kabyle political resistance against the French

Revolutionary War of Independence

• Ferhat Abbas, president of the provisional government of Algeria before independence, 1958–1961
• Mohamed Aïchaoui, journalist and independence war hero
• Colonel Amirouche, independence war hero
• Ali La Pointe, also known as Ali Ammar; independence war hero
• Krim Belkacem, independence war hero; vice president of the provisional government of Algeria
• Mostefa Benboulaid, Commander of Zone 1 during the independence war
• Hassiba Benbouali, female hero of the independence war
• Djamila Bouhired, female hero of the revolution
• Ahmed Mahsas, sociologist and independence war hero
• Larbi Ben M'hidi, Commander of Zone 5 during the independence war
• Abane Ramdane, political leader of the independence war; author of the "political over military" and "interior over exterior" principles
• Yacef Saadi, fighter in the independence war in the 1957 Battle of Algiers; actor in the 1966 war film by the same name after independence
• Mohamed Rahmoune, political and military leader of the independence war
• Lyès Deriche, political leader of the independence war; member of the Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action
• Yahia Boushaki, political and military leader of the independence war

Independent Algeria

• Chaâbane Aït Abderrahim, Wali of M'Sila, Constantine, and Algiers provinces
• Hocine Ait Ahmed, political leader and head of the Socialist Forces Front opposition party (also a prominent independence war leader)
• Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria's first President, 1962–1965
• Mourad Benachenou, Minister for the restructure of industry, 1995^[2]
• Chadli Bendjedid, President of Algeria, 1979–1992
• Maamar Benguerba, Minister for labour and social affairs in the 1992 government^[3]
• Rabah Bitat, vice president of Algeria's first government, president of parliament
• Mohamed Boudiaf, President of Algeria, 1992 (also a prominent Independence war leader)
• Houari Boumedienne, President of Algeria, 1965–1978
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria, 1999–2019
• Saïd Bouteflika, brother of Abdelaziz Bouteflika
• Lakhdar Brahimi, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Peace Envoy in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq
• Émilie Busquant, French feminist, anarcho-syndicalist and anti-colonial activist; best known for the role in the creation of the Algerian flag
• Abdallah Djaballah, founder and leader of Al-Islah party
• Farida Haddouche, female politician, party secretary general
• Louisa Hanoune, founder and female leader of the PT (Workers Party)
• Abelkader Khamri, former minister for youth and sport, 1992^[4]
• Chakib Khelil, former Minister of Energy and Mines, former OPEC president
• Abassi Madani, founder and leader of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party
• Ahmed Mahsas, sociologist and founder and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (UFD) party (also a prominent Independence war leader)
• Redha Malek, founder and leader of the ANR party
• Rabea Mechernane, minister of national solidarity and family in the 1990s
• Mahfoud Nahnah, founder and former leader of the HMS party
• Ahmed Ouyahia, former Prime Minister
• Nouara Saadia, Minister for Family and Women
• Mohamed A. Lahlou, cofounder of the FFS party
• Said Sadi, founder and leader of the RCD party
• Farouk Tebbal, minister for the environment in the 1992 government^[3]
• Liamine Zeroual, President of Algeria, 1994–1999

Martyrs

• Mohamed Aïchaoui
• Colonel Amirouche
• Hassiba Ben Bouali
• Larbi Ben M'hidi
• Cheikh Bouamama
  • Houari Boumédiène Mourad Didouche
• Malika Gaïd
• Zighoud Youcef
• Ahmed Zabana
• Moufdi Zakaria
• Ali Ammar

Military and intelligence services

• José Aboulker, member of the anti-Nazi resistance; later a neurosurgeon and political figure in France
• Larbi Belkheir, (Aboulker) former general, Ambassador to Morocco
• Mohamed Lamari, former Chief of Staff of the People's National Army
• Smain Lamari, head of the Department of Counter-Espionage and Internal Security
• Mohamed Mediène ("Toufik"), head of the Department of Information and Security
• Khaled Nezzar, retired general
• Raïs Hamidou, Algerian corsair

Musicians and singers

See main article: List of Algerian musicians.

Berber

• Aïssa Djermouni, singer, poet
• Boualem Boukacem, singer, poet, musician
• Idir, singer, musician, composer
• Lounes Matoub, rebel singer of Kabyle music
• Lounis Ait Menguellet, singer, poet, musician
• Erika sawajiri, singer, Algerian mother and Japanese father
• Takfarinas, singer

Classical

• El Hachemi Guerouabi, musician and reformer of the Chaabi classical style
• Tarik o'reagan, musician, Irish father and Algerian mother
• Dahmane El Harrachi, singer, composer and songwriter of Chaabi music
• El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, the Grand Master of Andalusian classical music and Chaabi (Algeria) music
• Warda Al-Jazairia, singer
• Boudjemaâ El Ankis, singer, musician, performer of chaâbi music
• Kamel Messaoudi, performer of chaâbi music
• Abdelkader Chaou, chaabi music interpreter
• Cheikh El Hasnaoui, singer
• Mustapha Toumi, songwriter
• Hadj Bouchiba, songwriter, lyricist, composer, poet and painter
• Reda Doumaz, singer
• Mustapha Skandrani, pianist, performer of chaâbi music
• Khelifa Belkacem, singer
• Mohamed Boumerdassi, singer
• Hsissen, singer
• Farid Ali, singer
• Hadj M'rizek, songwriter, lyricist, composer, poet and painter
• Hadj Menouar, singer

Contemporary

• DJ Snake, DJ, producer, songwriter; French-Algerian artist, worked with several famous artists
• Marina Kaye, singer, French father and Algerian mother
• Lolo Zouaï, American singer, born to a French mother and an Algerian father

Jazz

• Franck Amsallem, jazz pianist, arranger, composer and singer
• Michel Benita, double bass player
• Mohamed Rouane, Casbah-jazz, mondol player
• Martial Solal, jazz pianist and composer

Musiques du monde

• Mohamed Abdennour (Ptit Moh) composer, arranger, instrumentalist, variety of musical forms, Algerian mandole player
• Djamel Laroussi, singer, composer, songwriter, arranger and guitar player^[5]

Pop

• Baaziz, singer
• Enrico Macias (Gaston Ghrenassia), singer
• Souad Massi, singer
• Line Monty (Eliane Sarfati), singer
• Rajae El Mouhandiz, Dutch/Moroccan/Algerian singer, recording artist, storyteller and poet
• Zaho, singer

Rai

• Messaoud Bellemou, raï musician, one of the most influential musicians of modern raï
• Safy Boutella, musician, composer
• Cheb Hasni, raï musician
• Cheb Mami, raï musician, also known as Mohamed Khelifati
• Faudel, raï musician
• Khaled, raï musician, also known as Khaled El Hadj Brahim
• Raïna Raï, band^[6]
• Cheikha Rimitti, rai musician
• Rachid Taha, raï–rock musician
• Cheb Tarik, raï musician

Rap

• Fianso, Franco-Algerian rapper.
• Kenza Farah, Algerian singer-songwriter, rap, R&B and hip-hop; sings in French
• Lacrim, French-Algerian rapper, songwriter, has many hits in French game and American game
• L'Algerino, singer and rapper
• Double Kanon, rapper, MC, producer, songwriter; songs engaging tracks against political system
• PNL (Rap Duo), acronym of Peace N' Lovés, rap duo composed of two brothers: Ademo & N.O.S.
• Soolking, Algerian singer and rapper; incorporates reggae, soul, hip hop and Algerian raï in his music
• Soso Maness, rapper
• Didin Canon 16
• Boef, Algerian rapper; one of the Netherlands’ most successful rappers

Rock

• Rachid Taha, singer, musician

Religious figures

• Abdelkader El Djezairi, religious and military leader, Islamic scholar and Sufi
• Augustine of Hippo, Christian theologian
• Ahmad al-Alawi, founder of the Sufi Alawiyya order
• Abdul Baqi Miftah, Sunni Muslim scholar and writer
• Sidi M'hamed Bou Qobrine, founder of the rahmaniyya sufi order
• Ahmad al-Tijani, founder of the Tijaniyyah sufi order
• Hud ibn Muhakkam al-Hawwari, an Ibadi Quran exegete
• Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi, arab scholar and imam
• Abu Madyan, an influential mystic and a sufi master
• Sidi El Houari, an imam and a saint of Oran
• Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi, founder of the Senussi Order

Scholars and academics

Historians

• Mohamed Harbi, independence war historian
• Ibn Hammad, medieval historian
• Ahmed Mohammed al-Maqqari, Algerian historian born in the 16th century

Linguistics

• Abderrahmane Hadj-Salah, 20th century linguist and president of the Algerian Academy of the Arabic Language
• Saïd Cid Kaoui, 19th century lexicographer and interpreter focusing on Berber
• Judah ibn Kuraish, 9th century Algerian grammarian and lexicographer focusing on Hebrew
• Ibn Muti al-Zawawi, 13th century Algerian grammarian focusing on Arabic
• Mouloud Mammeri, 20th century anthropologist, linguist, poet, writer
• Mohamed Bencheneb, 19th century linguist and historian
• Rekia Oumeur-Lahlou, 20th century linguist, plurilinguisme

Science

• Elias Zerhouni, radiologist and medical researcher
• Maamar Bettayeb, control theorist and systems scientist
• Mohamed Belhocine, internal medicine and epidemiology researcher
• Mustapha Ishak Boushaki, cosmologist and relativity researcher
• Noureddine Melikechi, atomic, molecular, and optical physicist researcher
• Rachid Deriche, computational imaging researcher

Philosophy

• Mohamed Arkoun, author, philosopher, historian
• Malek Bennabi, social and religious philosopher
• Frantz Fanon, psychologist

Sports

Association football

• Adlene Guedioura, footballer and African champion
• Lakhdar Belloumi, footballer; World Cup participation in 1982, 1986
• Djamel Belmadi, coach, former footballer
• Zahir Belounis, footballer
• Saïd Benrahma, footballer
• Abdelaziz Ben Tifour, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Said Brahimi, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Ali Fergani, footballer and trainer
• Rabah Gamouh, international footballer
• Abdelhamid Kermali, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Mahieddine Khalef, footballer and trainer
• Mustapha Khedali), footballer
• Rabah Madjer, footballer; played in two World Cup games with Algeria, European champion with Porto
• Riyad Mahrez, footballer; played in one World Cup
• Raïs M'Bolhi, Algerian goalkeeper
• Rachid Mekhloufi, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Said Belmokhtar, Kazakhstani-born Ukrainian footballer of Algerian descent
• Yahia Ouahabi, retired player for JS Kabylie
• Islam Slimani, Algerian national footballer; (World Cup 2014)
• Mohamed Yahi, footballer for JS Kabylie and NA Hussein Dey
• Karim Ziani, Algerian national footballer; World Cup participation in 2010

Athletics

• Hassiba Boulmerka, athlete; 1500 m world and Olympic champion
• Taoufik Makhloufi, athlete; 1500 m Olympic champion
• Nouria Mérah-Benida, athlete; 1500 m Olympic champion
• Noureddine Morceli, athlete; 1500 m world and Olympic champion
• Artur Partyka, Polish high jumper; father is Algerian

Boxing

• Abdelhafid Benchabla, boxer
• Amine Boushaki, judoka
• Robert Cohen, world-champion bantamweight boxer
• Alphonse Halimi ("la Petite Terreur"), world-champion bantamweight boxer
• Myriam Lamare, boxer, French father and Algerian mother
• Mohamed Missouri, boxer
• Lhouari Godih

Fencing

• Tahar Hamou, foil fencer
• Anissa Khelfaoui, foil fencer
• Armand Mouyal (1925–1988), French world champion épée fencer
• Ferial Salhi, foil fencer

Ice hockey

• Josef Boumedienne, professional ice hockey player; Algerian and Finnish descent

Judo

• Hassane Azzoun, Algerian judoka
• Sami Belgroun, Algerian judoka
• Abderahmane Benamadi, Algerian judoka
• Mounir Benamadi, Algerian judoka
• Amar Benikhlef, Algerian judoka
• Mohamed Bouaichaoui, Algerian judoka
• Faycal Bousbiat, Algerian judoka
• Amine Boushaki, Algerian judoka
• Lyès Bouyacoub, Algerian judoka
• Khaled Meddah, Algerian judoka
• Amar Meridja, Algerian judoka
• Omar Rebahi, Algerian judoka
• Mohamed-Amine Tayeb, Algerian judoka
• Nourredine Yagoubi, Algerian judoka
• Houd Zourdani, Algerian judoka

Other sports

• Ali Boulala, professional skateboarder; Algerian and Swedish descent
• Ines Ibbou, tennis player
• Kahina Bounab, volleyball player
• Salaheddine Mokdad Saidi, volleyball player

See also

• List of people by nationality

Notes and References

1. [:fr:Hadj Abderrahmane]
2. Hunter, Brian. (Ed.) (1995) The Statesman's Year-Book 1995-96. 132nd edition. London: Macmillan. p. 71.
3. Hunter, Brian. (Ed.) (1993) The Statesman's Year-Book 1993-94. 130th edition. London: Macmillan. p. 81.
4. Hunter, Brian. (Ed.) (1993) The Statesman's Year-Book 1993-94. 130th edition. London: Macmillan. p. 81.
5. Web site: Biographie De Djamel Laroussi. arabestar.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081014141046/http://www.arabestar.com/biographie-Djamel-Laroussi.php. 14 October 2008. dmy-all.
6. Raïna Raï songs – maghrebspace.com