Lalla Fatma N'Soumer

Lalla Fatma N'Soumer (Kabyle: Lalla Faḍma n Sumer; c.1830 – c. 1863) was an important figure of the Algerian resistance movement during the first years of the French colonial invasion of Algeria. She was seen as the embodiment of the struggle.

Lalla

Fatma N'Soumer
Fadhma n'Soumer  (Kabyle)
Born
Fadhma n Taieb n cheikh Ali benaissa

c. 1830
Werja, Abi Youcef
Diedc. 1863 (aged 3233)
Known forMaraboutic resistance fighter against the French conquest of Algeria

Lalla, the female equivalent of the Berber word mass, is an honorific reserved for women of high rank, or who are venerated as saints.

From 1854 to July 1857, she assisted in leading a resistance against the French. Once captured by French forces, she was imprisoned until her death six years later. Her disciples would believe that she was gifted powers by God, including the abilities to see the future and cure illness.[1]

Her ashes were transferred in 1994 from the cemetery of Sidi Abdellah, 100 meters from the zawiya Boumâali in Tourtatine towards the Square of the Martyrs of El Alia Cemetery.

Legacy

Lalla Fatma's life has been documented in the movie Fathma N'Soumer, directed by Belkacem Hadjadj and released in 2014. The lead role of Fatma N'Soumer was played by French actress Laetitia Eido.[2] A few statues of Lalla Fatma are in display in Algeria. A few schools and streets bear her name in Algeria.

Her ashes were transferred in 1994 from the cemetery of Sidi Abdellah, 100 meters from the zawiya Boumâali in Tourtatine towards the Square of the Martyrs of El Alia Cemetery.

References

  1. "Imperialism in North Africa". Women in World History: Module 9. Center for History and New Media. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  2. "Fatma N'Soumer (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved 7 July 2017.

Sources

  • Emile Carrey, Récits de Kabylie. Campagne de 1857, Paris 1858
  • Adolphe Hanoteau, Poésies populaires de la Kabylie du Jurjura, Paris 1867
  • Tahar Oussedik, Lalla Fadhma n'Summer, Algeri, Laphomic, 1983
  • Boukhalfa Bitam, Fadhma n'Soumer. Une autre lecture du combat de l'illustre fille de Werja, Draa Ben Khedda, Aurassi, 2000

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