Algiers as 2007 Arab Cultural Capital receives mixed reviews

2008-01-11

The Arab Cultural Capital 2007 events are drawing to a close in Algiers, after a year filled with artistic activities. Although government officials described the event as one of the most successful in its 12 years, critics said corruption was rampant and the cultural events failed to capture most Algerians' interest.

Text and photos by Boualam Senhadji for Magharebia in Algiers – 11/01/08

Organisers including Minister of Culture Khalida Toumi smile at one of the "Algiers, Arab Cultural Capital 2007" events. Event participants and the public accused the organisers of corruption and "lacklustre" productions.

After Tunis in 1997 and Rabat in 2003, in 2007 Algiers became the third Maghreb city to be named Arab Cultural Capital. Organisers will pass the torch to Damascus on January 14th, after putting together a plethora of events that failed to impress Algerians.

Algeria's Ministry of Culture oversaw the organisation of cinematic, theatrical, musical, artistic and literary events throughout the country. Noureddine Athmani, advisor to the minister of culture, described the event as one of the most successful compared with those organised up to now in 12 Arab countries.

Book events topped the list for sheer numbers. Of 1,001 planned titles, 960 were published and a total of 1,850,000 copies were printed. Many book bus tours and book fairs were organised. In theatre, twelve wilayas hosted a total of 43 plays and 11 tributes to Algerian theatrical artists. As for cinema, 58 films were produced, including 11 feature films, 33 documentaries and 14 short films and television movies. Travelling cinemas worked their way through 266 of the country's communes. Organisers also put on 38 music tours, 27 festivals and 220 local shows.

The cultural year featured hundreds of individual events throughout the country.

But despite a long list of figures and genres, many Algerian artists and observers have decried and criticised the event, sometimes sharply. Concerns about the quality of the event's organisation, its impact on the public and especially allegations of financial mismanagement were chief among public criticisms.

Even functionaries in the Ministry of Culture said the financial management of the event was highly suspect. Only seven months into the year, on July 15th 2007, a group of culture ministry employees went so far as to publish an unsigned internet statement entitled "Algiers, Corruption Capital – A mafia organisation running Algerian culture!!"

The document provided a volume of accusations about the "misappropriation of funds" which they say characterised the event. The authors of the document describe "billions diverted" and "false budgets".

General disorganisation resulted in a number of event deadlines not being met and a lack of funds caused many events to simply be cancelled. Events as important as the inauguration of the Algiers National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art were affected by the delays.

The consecutive resignations of the two event administrators, Lamine Bechichi and Kamel Bouchama, also had "a serious impact on the running of the event," acknowledged Athmani, who said the event went ahead "without a suitable communications strategy".

A well-known former event organiser contacted by Magharebia said that the facts revealed by the culture ministry officials seemed irrefutable.

Some Algerians have levelled accusations of mismanagement against Culture Minister Khalida Toumi. She responded saying, "It is absolutely impossible to meet everyone’s expectations and support all the projects."

Culture Minister Khalida Toumi, against whom some Algerians have levelled accusations of mismanagement, appeared un-phased by the criticism. "To be perfectly honest," she said, "I think it would be sad if the year pleased everyone. It would not be normal. It is absolutely impossible to meet everyone’s expectations and support all the projects.

The Finance Ministry reportedly dispatched an audit board to look into the allegations of financial mismanagement, although no official information to confirm the inquiry has been made available.

In an interview with El Watan last week, the culture minister defended herself. "Sorry to those who wanted to see Khalida Toumi in prison. They will have to look for something else," she said. In reference to the reported audit board, she said the finance ministry's General Finance Inspectorate has the accounts.

On a more popular level, some say the event was characterised by general disinterest among Algerians. Although the Arab film festival in Oran, the cinema workshops in Bejaia, and the Algiers book fair were generally deemed successes, months of Algerian and Arab cultural forums failed to turn out large crowds. Cultural observers, journalists, artists and members of the public were keen to point out that despite considerable funding for the event's projects, Algeria continues to be dominated by a "cultural desert".

Several Algerian artists expressed dissatisfaction with the year's events.

Singer Souad Massi expressed what she called "sadness" for her country. "I don’t know if it has to do with organisational problems, but apart from the opening of the year of culture in Algiers, I was expecting to see more major events."

Rai singer Cheb Khaled was more pungent in his analysis of Algiers as Arab Cultural Capital. Lashing out at the culture minister, he said the organisers totally ignored Raï throughout the year. "I didn’t enjoy anything apart from the grand slogans, because apart from the opening ceremony, which was lacklustre despite the huge set, I saw nothing but dreary shows."

"Our rich and varied cultural heritage was not showcased alongside that of the other Arab countries," he said, adding, "I’m really sorry for my country."