Abdelkader Alloula

Abdelkader Alloula (عبد القادر علولة), born July 8, 1939 in Ghazaouet in Algeria and died on March 14, 1994 at the Val-de-Grâce hospital in Paris, France as a result of injuries received during a terrorist attack in Oran, March 10, 1994, while he was going to the Palais de la Culture for a conference-debate. He is an Algerian actor, playwright and director. Between 1969 and 1993 he wrote ten theatrical plays, and is considered in Algeria as one of the most popular Algerian playwrights, his plays are written in popular Arabic, the language and culture that he defended.

Abdelkader Alloula, lived and grew up in Oran. In 1956, he began amateur theater within the “Echabab” troupe of Oran after secondary studies in Sidi Bel Abbès and Oran. In this context and until 1960, he participated in several training courses and played successively in “Maghramin Bil Mel” by Mohamed Touati, “Roujouê Es Saâda”, “Khedma Chrifa” and “Khadr El Yadine” by Mohamed Krachaï. He participates in internships and theater study and training courses, notably at the University Center for Theater Studies in Nancy as well as at the University of the Sorbonne. In 1962, he produced “El Asra” (The Captives) by Plaute as part of the troupe of the “Ensemble Théâtral Oranais”. In 1963, he was recruited by the Algerian National Theater (TNA) as an actor, and at the same time played in several films. Between 1964 and 1968, he staged several texts by contemporary authors including Rouiched, Tawfiq El Hakim and Maxime Gorki. He wrote and directed several works for the theater and became one of the major authors of his generation in Algeria.

In 1965, he participated in the creation of the National Institute of Dramatic and Choreographic Art (INADC) of Bordj El Kiffan. In 1967, he performed and directed three theatrical pieces from the universal repertoire (Sophocles – Aristophanes – Shakespeare) for Channel III radio. Between 1972 and 1975, he directed the Oran Regional Theater (TRO) where he promoted amateur theater and collective creations. He also directed the Algerian National Theater (T.N.A) in 1976. In 1990, he adapted for Algerian television five short stories by the Turkish author Aziz Nesin: “Lila Ma Majnoun”, “Es Soltane Oual Guerbane”, “El Wissam”, “Echaab Fak” and “El Wajeb El Watani” produced for television by Bachir Bérichi. He is also the author of two screenplays: “Gorinne” (1972) and “Jalti” (1980), directed for television by Mohamed Ifticène. In 1983, he participated in the commentary for the film “Bouziane el Qual’i” by Belkacem El Hadjadj and in 1985 in the commentary for the film “How Much I Love You” by Azzedine Meddour.

On March 10, 1994, Abdelkader Alloula was shot dead outside his home, Rue de Mostaganem in Oran. A month after his assassination, the Regional Theater of Oran was named in his name as well as the Maison de la Culture de Tlemcen. In March 1999, the Abdelkader Alloula Foundation, led by his wife Raja Alloula for nearly 20 years, was created to preserve his legacy. Today, his plays are translated into several languages and he is considered the most translated playwright from Algerian Arabic to foreign languages.