The Lyrics of the Algerian National Anthem
The eminent Algerian poet "Moufdi Zakaria" versified the poem "Kassamen", "the oath", during the summer of 1955, following an appeal launched by the command of the Algerian Revolution which considered it necessary to develop an enthusiastic revolutionary song capable of motivating the people and destroying in them the feeling of despondency and defection.
However, the command of the Revolution recommended respect for three essential points in the composition of the anthem in question:
- Let it be a call to the people to join the ranks of the Revolution under the leadership of the National Liberation Front.
- That he condemns the oppressive colonizer, in this case, France.
- That it must not glorify a person, whatever their militant past or present.
The text “Kassamen” was in accordance with the aforementioned recommendations, developed in five partitions according to the five pillars of Islam, it was distinct by the force of its inspiration and by its artistic praise.
After approval, the command of the Revolution tasked “Moufdi Zakaria” with finding appropriate music for the official national anthem.
A first contact was established with the militant Algerian actor “Mohamed Touri” who was the first composer. The recording took place at (the Poet's House) located in Kouba (Algiers) in the presence of a group of radio presenters of the time. Given the difficulty of its interpretation, the melody was inconclusive.
This is how the lyricist of “Kassamen” went to Tunisia to request the professor (Mohamed triki) who presented a new score of the anthem and recorded it at the headquarters of the Tunisian radio. This score was used as the theme song for the show “Sawt el Djazair”. However, it was not approved by the revolutionary command.
A final contact established with the famous musician “Mohamed Fawzi” through the Egyptian radio “Sawt El Arab”, made it possible to finalize a musical interpretation of the poem “Kassamen”. This melody meeting all the criteria, including the specific style, rhythms and percussion, was accepted by the Command of the Revolution. Thus, “Kassamen” was considered the official song of the Algerian Revolution.
The day after independence, “Kassamen” was decreed the official national anthem of the Algerian Democratic and Popular Republic, under Law No. 06/86 of March 1986.
However, the command of the Revolution recommended respect for three essential points in the composition of the anthem in question:
- Let it be a call to the people to join the ranks of the Revolution under the leadership of the National Liberation Front.
- That he condemns the oppressive colonizer, in this case, France.
- That it must not glorify a person, whatever their militant past or present.
The text “Kassamen” was in accordance with the aforementioned recommendations, developed in five partitions according to the five pillars of Islam, it was distinct by the force of its inspiration and by its artistic praise.
After approval, the command of the Revolution tasked “Moufdi Zakaria” with finding appropriate music for the official national anthem.
A first contact was established with the militant Algerian actor “Mohamed Touri” who was the first composer. The recording took place at (the Poet's House) located in Kouba (Algiers) in the presence of a group of radio presenters of the time. Given the difficulty of its interpretation, the melody was inconclusive.
This is how the lyricist of “Kassamen” went to Tunisia to request the professor (Mohamed triki) who presented a new score of the anthem and recorded it at the headquarters of the Tunisian radio. This score was used as the theme song for the show “Sawt el Djazair”. However, it was not approved by the revolutionary command.
A final contact established with the famous musician “Mohamed Fawzi” through the Egyptian radio “Sawt El Arab”, made it possible to finalize a musical interpretation of the poem “Kassamen”. This melody meeting all the criteria, including the specific style, rhythms and percussion, was accepted by the Command of the Revolution. Thus, “Kassamen” was considered the official song of the Algerian Revolution.
The day after independence, “Kassamen” was decreed the official national anthem of the Algerian Democratic and Popular Republic, under Law No. 06/86 of March 1986.