Algeria(s), a mosaic of heirs seeks to draw a portrait of the composite community linked to Algeria on French territory and its archipelago of memories, after 130 of colonialism, 8 years of war (1954-1962), 1 milion people back to France in 1962 and decades of algerian migrations in France
This reportage is based on a work of portrait and meetings with different people, from the Parisian suburbs to small towns in the countryside- It tries to interrogate the diversity of this community, its multiple identities far from stigamitzation and the collective imaginary around Algeria in France. The project will seek to understand and tell what unites this community of attachment rather than what divides it, and how Algeria lives through it in French society. A ground-level reportage, in counterpoint to the national narrative, inspired by my own family history ( my mother was born in Oran, Algeria during the war) and my interest in transnational relationships, histories and identities.
With the support of the BnF - National French LIbrary with the photographic comission " Radioscopie de la France"
Marthe was born in Algeria in a jewish family, divided between religious people and activists, supporters of Algeria's independance. Here she stands with her son Salvador.
LEFT : A remember of the roots. This piece of a jewish ritual has been transmitted to Marthe in Algeria, but she never remembers where is it in her house. This plate travel from Algeria to France, stayed at different place when she was travelling before finally follow her, and come back to France. RIGHT : An arabic shop in Marseille France, at the Marché aux puces
Norah rest on the rocks in Marseille, where she gather con other many french-algerian citizens who lived in Marseille.
LEFT : Marseille is technically closest to Algeria than to Paris. But this see is not easy to cross, for visas and economic reasons. RIGHT: Emilie traveled4 years ago with her father to Alger, for the first time after decades. The Jardin d'essai and its plants connected with the family memory.
Emilie is the daugther of a " pied noir", which means europeans who lived in Algeria before the war. Despite the slient about Algeria at her home, she led her own process and finally embrace muslim religion.
During the celebration of the end of the Ramadan in a french-algerian family in a smal town in the heart of france
During the celebration of the end of the Ramadan in a french-algerian family in a smal town in the heart of france. Charef received from its children the same question he asked to his parents " are we french or what?"
LEFT : Monument for the 1 000 000 of french citizens who came back to France after Algeria's independance. RIGHT : Portrait of Abd El Kader, an important figure of the resistance to the french during the colonization in the 1830`s at an exhibition in Marseille
People from different cultures and ages gather at the tribute to the French Algerian musician in Paris Rachid Taha, at the Arab World Institute