Kasbah of Algiers nostalgic for communitarianism

With all the deep changes the Kasbah experienced these past decades, the spirit of community, once deeply anchored, is undoubtedly the most regretted value by inhabitants during the fasting month, since Ramadan rituals are revolved around it. One will never say it enough: more than any other place of the capital, the Kasbah "is no more recognizable" by its authentic residents, because of the transformations that have altered the civilizational, cultural and societal substrate of this ancient city. In this holy month, mainly dedicated to reinforcing religious faith, some "Kasbah inhabitants" remind, with nostalgia, the festive atmosphere which previously accompanied this so special period of the year, regretting the near disappearance of the spirit of community, past source of their pride and joy. "All the residents of gave hands to clean the district houses for Ramadan," recounts Tchekiken Omar, born in Abderrahmane Arbadji street (ex-Marengo), who remembers the pleasant collaboration among young people to clean up the city’s facades and alleys. However, the "most beautiful" lesson of solidarity that this man who feel back nostalgically to the "authentic" Kasbah remembers the fact that the neighbors "complete" to have the "privilege" to invite the needy to their "iftar" table. "They are warmly welcomed by every inhabitant of the district," he recalls, while regretting, sighed deeply, such Scraps of life which "cannot revive yesterday’s scents." Also, women’s community life was denser with the multiple tasks they share, as for traditionally preparing ingredients for Ramadan soup "Chorba" and honey sweets, remembers Lamine-Semarine Mimi, 80, one of the living memories of this legendary Medina. Collective evenings among neighbors in houses court (Ouast Eddar) or on the terraces with stunning views over the city, all in an unrivaled atmosphere of joy, are unlikely to resume, she says. "Reviving the collective memory by young" Reviving the symbols and the collective memory of "beating heart" of the capital is the workhorse of the association "Friends of Louni Arezki" (ex-Ramp Valley), launched its President Lounis Ait-Aoudia. Nostalgic for the white-colored houses which earned the capital the name of "Algiers the White", the Association president considers the cleanliness, as one of the values to be deeply rooted in the youth because they reflect more than anything else the degree of "citizenship "of a society. The association struggles to revive other anchored values as mutual aid, solidarity, respect for others