List of notable Algerians
This is a list of famous or important Algerians:
In the news
Artists
Authors and poets
- Apuleius, classical author
- Mohammed Dib, 20th century writer
- Assia Djebar, novelist, translator and filmmaker
- Kateb Yacine, 20th century writer
- Jean Amrouche, 20th century poet and writer
- Taos Amrouche, author
- Rachid Boudjedra, poet, author
- Tahar Djaout, poet, journalist, critic
- Mouloud Feraoun, author and independance war hero
- Moufdi Zakaria, author of the Algerian National Anthem Kassaman
- Malek Haddad, poet, writer
- Said Mekbel, satirist, journalist
- Rachid Mimouni, author, poet
- Yasmina Khadra, also known as Mohamed Moulessehoul, author
- Abul-Kasim Saadallah, historian, author, poet, professor
Painters
- M'hamed Issiakhem, painter, calligraphist
- Mohamed Khadda, painter and sculptor
- Baya Mahiedienne, female painter
Calligraphists
- Mohamed Racim, Painter, Miniaturist, Calligraphist
- Omar Racim, Painter, Miniaturist
Cartoonists
Cinema artists
Actors
- Yahia Benmabrouk, also known as "l'apprentit", comedian
- Biyouna, female actor, dancer, comedian
- Abderahmane Hadj, also known as "l'inspecteur tahar", comedian
- Mohamed Fellag, actor and comedian
- Hassan El Hassani, actor and comedian
- Sid Ahmed Agoumi, actor
- Sid Ali Kouiret, actor
- Mohamed Hilmi, actor
- Rouiched, actor
- Farida Saboundji, actress
Directors & Filmmakers
- Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, Film director, Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Festival, pioneer of Algerian cinema
- Merzak Allouache, film director
- Abdelkader Alloula, theatre producer
Musicians and Singers
Classical
- Cheikh Larbi Ben Sari, composer and musician from the Tlemcen school of Andalusian music
- Abdelkrim Dali, Master of Hawzi classical music
- El Hadj Mohamed El Anka, Master of Chaabi classical music
- Cheikh Mohamed El Ghafour, musician from the Tlemcen school of Hawzi music
- Mohamed Tahar Fergani, musician and master of the Malouf classical style
- El Hachemi Guerouabi, musician and reformer of the Chaabi classical style
- Fadela Dziria, singer of Hawzi classical style music
- Kamel Messaoudi, singer of Chaabi music
- Warda El Djazaria, singer of classical Arab oriental music
- Dahmane El Harrachi, a brilliant singer composer and songwriter of Chaabi music
Berber/Kabyle
- Lounis Ait Menguellet, singer, musician
- Idir, singer, musician, composer
- Aissa Djermouni, master of the Chaoui song, performed at the Olympia in Paris in 1917
- Matoub Lounes, rebel singer of Kabyle music
- Djamel Allam, singer
- Malika Domrane, singer
- Cherif Kheddam, singer
Pop
- Baaziz, singer
- Souad Massi, singer
Rai
- Cheb Khaled, raï musician, also known as Khaled El Hadj Brahim
- Safy Boutella, musician, composer
- Cheb Hasni, rai musician
- Cheb Mami, rai musician, also known as Mohamed Khelifati
- Ahmed Wahby, Founder of the Aasri style which will later become Rai music style
Leaders and politicians
Ancient Algeria
- Massinissa, 3rd century BC, King of Numidia, the ancestor of modern Algeria
- Jugurtha, 2nd century BC, King of Numidia, the ancestor of modern Algeria
- Kahina, 7th century Queen, fought the Arab invasions
- Tin Hinane, Queen of the Touareg
Early Islamic Algeria
- Tarik Ibn Ziad, One of the first Berber princes converted to Islam, he conquered Iberia in the 8th century
- Buluggin ibn Ziri, 10th century prince, founder of the city of Algiers (Al Jazair in Arabic)
Ottoman Algeria
- Baba Aroudj, 16th century corsair, leader of the Regency of Algiers
- Hassan Agha, 16th century Prince of Algiers. Defeated Emperor Charles V in Algiers
- Rais Hamidou, the last great leader of the Algerian Corsair Navy.
- Salah Benmostefa, also Salah Bey, 18th century prince of Constantine
French Conquest and Occupation
- Emir Abdelkader, 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
- Lalla Fatma N'Soumer, 19th century female leader of the Kabyle resistance against the French.
- Cheikh Amoud BenMokhtar, Head of the Touareg resistance against France, 1877 to 1912
- Mohamed El Mokrani, 19th century leader of the Kabyle resistance against the French
- Emir Khaled, grandson of Emir Abdelkader, leader of a rebellion against French rule in Algeria in the 20th century
- Messali Hadj, Founder of the first North African and then Algerian Nationalist Parties.
Revolutionary War of Independence
- Abane Ramdane, political leader of the independence war, author of the "political over military" and "interior over exterior" principles.
- Krim Belkacem, independence war hero, Vice president of the provisional government of Algeria.
- Larbi Ben M'hidi, Commander of Zone 5 during the independence war
- Mostefa Benboulaid, Commander of Zone 1 during the independence war
- Mourad Didouche, Commander of Zone 2 during the independence war.
- Zighout Youcef, Commander of Zone 2 during the independence war
- Colonel Amirouche, independence war hero.
- Ferhat Abbas, President of the provisional government of Algeria before independance, 1958-1961
- Yacef Saadi, fighter in the independence war in the Battle of Algiers. Also actor in film by the same name after independence.
- Ali Ammar, also known as Ali la Pointe, independence war hero.
- Hassiba Benbouali, female hero of the independence war
- Djamila Bouhired, female hero of the revolution
- Djamila Boupacha, female hero of the revolution
Independent Algeria
- Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria's first President, 1962-1965
- Houari Boumedienne, President of Algeria, 1965-1978
- Chadli Bendjedid, President of Algeria, 1979-1992
- Mohamed Boudiaf, President of Algeria, 1992 (also a prominent Independence war leader)
- Liamine Zeroual, President of Algeria, 1994-1999
- Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President since 1999
- Ahmed Ouyahia, Current Prime Minister
- Hocine Ait Ahmed, political leader and head of the Socialist Forces Front opposition party (also a prominent independence war leader)
- Rabah Bitat, Vice president of Algeria's first government, president of parliament
- Drif-Bitat Zohra, Vice-president of the Senate (also a female figure of the independence war)
- Lakhdar Brahimi, Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Peace Envoy in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Irak
- Mahfoud Nahnah, founder and former leader of the HMS party
- Abdallah Djaballah, founder and leader of Al-Islah party
- Said Sadi, founder and leader of the RCD party
- Louisa Hanoune, founder and female leader of the PT (Workers Party)
- Redha Malek, founder and leader of the ANR party
Religious figures
- Augustine of Hippo, Christian theologian
- Ahmed Benbadis, 20th century religious reformer
Scholars and Academics
Historians
- Mohamed Harbi independance war historian
- Mahfoud Kaddache historian
Scientists & Philosophers
- Frantz Fanon, psychologist
- Mohamed Arkoun, author, philosopher, historian
- Malek Bennabi, social and religious philosopher
- Ibn Qunfudh Al Qassantini, 14th century astronomer and mathematician
- Mouloud Mammeri, anthropologue, poete, writer
- Djilali Liabes, Researcher, Minister for Scientific Research from 1992 to 1993
Explorers and travellers
Architects
Sports
- Lakhdar Belloumi, football player, world cup participation in 1982, 1986
- Noureddine Morceli, athlete, 1500m world and olympic champion
- Hassiba Boulmerka, female athlete, 1500m world and olympic champion
- Aziz Derouaz, handball player
- Mahieddine Khalef, football player and trainer
- Ali Fergani, footbal player and trainer
- Rabah Madjer, football player, 2 world cup participations with Algeria, European champion with Porto, etc...
- Rachid Mekhloufi, one of the founding fathers of the Algerian football team
- Abdelhamid Kermali, one of the founding fathers of the Algerian football team
- Said Brahimi, one of the founding fathers of the Algerian football team
- Mostefa Zitouni, one of the founding fathers of the Algerian football team
- Abdelaziz Bentifour, one of the founding fathers of the Algerian football team
Other
Famous Westerners in Algeria
Famous Algerians in the West
- Elias Zerhouni, Head of the US National Institutes of Health, graduated from Algiers University's School of Medicine.