Isabelle Eberhardt: The nomad in love with Algeria - Top Destinations in Algeria
In a recent and unpublished study, Mohammed Rochd, born Kemf Jules, outlines the main lines of colonial penetration in the Sahara, the history of which remains to be written. Specialist of Isabelle Eberhardt who was a privileged witness in the South-West, he underlines the interest of literary works as a documentary source.
He notes that “when we go through articles or studies concerning Isabelle Eberhardt (…), we realize that a majority of authors have difficulties in understanding the recent history of our country and especially that of its Saharan part. Moreover, this one is rather little approached and misunderstood”.
Therefore, the occupation of the Sahara remains to be studied “because all the historical works take it only slightly into account. Even the two volumes of the History of Contemporary Algeria by Ch. Robert Ageron are too discreet”.
It is in this perspective that he began his study in order to lay down milestones. First, the political situation is sketched: “On the eve of the coup in Algiers, the Sahara showed no political unity.
Program on the life of Isabelle Eberhardt in Algeria
That of the East was made up of kingdoms, with mainly the Sultanate of Ouargla, the central Sahara was vaguely under the influence of the Turkish Regency and that of the West depended on Morocco (since the middle of the 16th century) which n practically no act of sovereignty was exercised there.
All of Hoggar is under the control of the Tuareg, who managed to get the most out of it for themselves alone. As for the trans-Saharan trade, it had weakened at the beginning of the 16th century.
About the "dependence" of the South-West in relation to Morocco, the assertion is nuanced further on, the author indicating "the non-existence of an authority and the independence of the tribes vis-à-vis the Cherifian power ".
Source: websites