3030 - Danse des Ouled-Naïls

numbered 3030 - Afrique du Nord. On the back a handwritten message of a traveller. "Souvenir d'Afrique, Achille". Also the date and place are marked handwritten on the back: "Le 4 novembre 1926, Saïda (Afrique)". At that time nowadays Algeria was occupied by France and visitors simply refered to it as "Africa".

The dance origins perhaps will remain a mystery as it can be traced back before the Ottoman, the Arab and even the Roman occupation of Algeria.

Its historical value lies in the setting of the city of Saïda, a stronghold of Abd al-Qadir, the Algerian national leader, who burned the town as French forces approached it in 1844.

After the French conquered the region, a regiment of the French Foreign Legion was stationed there. In the 20th century, many Ouled-Nails spied for the indepence movement fighters which led to the victory of the so called "rebels" and the Algerian independence in 1962.

The powed of the Ouled Nail dancers was conserved in this proverb: “The man who sleeps with an Ouled Nail will first lose his soul, afterwards his wealth, and finally his life.”

This postcard is in excellent condition!

Carte postale ancienne format 14x9 cm