On 22 February 2019, Algerians took to the streets in protest of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s attempt to run for a fifth mandate. They rejected not only the rule of Bouteflika, however, but also the entire regime that has been associated with him. This movement has been defined by a cutting sense of humor and a seemingly unlimited creativity in crafting slogans, songs, and signs. The movement, which has taken on the title Hirak (movement), shares a number of features with its Moroccan counterpart of the same name: it is a grassroots movement that has not been channeled in a single political party, for example. As Michel Foucault argued, the production of discourse “is not simply that which translates struggles or systems of domination, but it is the thing for which and by which there is struggle, discourse is the power which is to be seized.”[1]
Following, we have provided a glossary of terms in order to document the language (often in Darija, or North African dialect) in which these struggles have been waged. Our hope is that by documenting this vocabulary we have also offered a novel lens with which to understand the locally specific nature of contestation in these two countries.
We are cognizant of the risk of collapsing the struggles in Algeria and Morocco just because they share the same moniker. A few words of context are perhaps in order. The Moroccan Hirak originated from the Rif region, and has faced harsh repression—symbolized by the fate of activist Nasser Zefzafi, who was sentenced to twenty years in prison and recently sew his lips together in protest. It began in October 2016, with the death of Mohsin Fekri, a fish vendor, after his products were seized by the authorities in al-Hoceima. The Moroccan Hirak responded to the particularities of regional politics in Morocco, and brought together a set of socioeconomic, cultural, and political grievances. In comparison, the Algerian movement shares the same kind of grassroots origin and heterogeneous claims. Yet, it has taken the form of a nation-wide uprising that the local police state has been unable to tame, until now.
The protests in Algeria and Morocco have followed a different temporality from the uprisings of 2010-2011 that have been somewhat problematically termed the “Arab Spring.” In 2011 both countries witnessed smaller scale protests, leading to the 20 February movement in Morocco and the birth of the National Coordination for Change and Democracy (CNCD) in Algeria. Local regimes navigated this period of unrest by drawing on a combination of reforms, economic redistribution, and repression. Nevertheless, they remained under the pressure of their disenfranchised margins. Meanwhile, their respective heads of state, King Mohamed VI and Abdelaziz Bouteflika, appeared to be increasingly absent from national politics for medical reasons. Over the last two years, the Hirak in Morocco and in Algeria have challenged a seemingly robust status quo. While both movements have already taken a different trajectory, they are still very much still in play. It is the desire of protestors to introduce a vernacular “symbolic revolution” that we hope to capture here.
One last caveat is needed: the following glossary has been a truly collective effort and draws upon the help of many people who are not listed here and chimed in as friends, colleagues, or even on social media. We hope to continue updating this glossary, and welcome entry contributions (for which we will devise a mechanism to credit people for). Those interested in contributing may send relevant details or inquiries to info@jadaliyya.com.
[1] Michel Foucault, “The Order of Discourse,” in Untying the Text: A Post-Structuralist Reader, ed. Robert Young (Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., 1991), 52.
'Aissaba
Language: Fusha
Arabic: عصابة
Country: Algeria
Definition: The gang (the regime)
Usage: Protestors in Algeria have asked for the entire “gang” to leave the political scene.
Autoroute
Language: French
Country: Algeria
Definition: Highway
Usage: Refers to the East-West Highway, the construction of which was plagued by corruption and a major source of jokes.
A’yacha
Language: Darija
Arabic: عياشة
Country: Morocco
Definition: Long live
Usage: Used to designate supporters of the Makhzen based on the phrase “Long Live the King” (عياشة الملك).
Badisy'ia Novembary'ia
Language: Fusha
Arabic: باديسية نوفمبرية
Country: Algeria
Meaning: Principles of November
Usage: A slogan that calls for basing the transitional sociopolitical phase on two elements: the reenactment of the principles of the Statement of 1 November 1954, and the revival of Islamic thoughts advanced by the scholars of the Association of Algerian Muslim Ulema, founded by Abdelhamid Ben Badis (hence Badisy'ia) in 1931, and which had an important role and influence prior to and during the War of Independence.
Baltajiyya
Language: Darija
Arabic: بلطجية
Country: Algeria/Morocco
Definition: Thugs
Usage: Indicates those “thugs” hired by the regime to treat protestors with violence or disperse crowds, also a major term from the Egyptian uprisings.
Bled miki
Language: Darija
Arabic: بلاد ميكي
Country: Algeria
Definition: The country of Mickey
Usage: Used to capture the absurdity of everyday life and politics in Algeria.
Botti
Language: Darija
Arabic: بوتي
Country: Algeria
Definition: Boat
Usage: Refers to the desire to leave Algeria; a well-known saying is “We prefer to be eaten by fish than by the worms” (yakulna al-hout wala doud). In contrast, some of the current signs have read, “We will not be eaten by fish. We will reconstruct Algeria.”
لن يلكلنا الحوت و سنعيد بناء جزائرنا
Boulahya
Language: Darija
Arabic: بولحية
Country: Algeria
Definition: A bearded man
Usage: Used to refer to an Islamist.
Boutesriqa
Language: Darija
Arabic: بوتسريقة (from the verb سرق)
Country: Algeria
Definition: A combination of Bouteflika and “to steal,” i.e., “father of the thief”
Usage: Used to refer to the central position of Bouteflika and his associates (i.e., Saïd, Haddad, Tahkout, Ouyahia, Ghoul, Benyounes, Khelil, and others) in the system of corruption that has plagued the country.
BRI
Language: French
Country: Algeria
Definition: Brigade de Recherche et d’Intervention
Usage: A special branch of the Algerian police (DGSN) modeled on the French BRI; while they are technically trained as a swat team to deal with organized crime and terrorism, they also intervene to crack down on peaceful protesters.
Cadre
Language: French
Country: Algeria
Definition: Frame
Usage: A nickname for Bouteflika, and more generally a reference to the picture of the president displayed in every public building. It has become the symbol of a form of Kafkaian rule, where the alleged savior is a mere picture, a pretext for the gang to rule. Example.
Casa del Mouradia
Language: Spanish
Country: Algeria
Definition: Title of chant by Ouled al-Bahdja, a group of USMA fans
Usage: A common protest song in the streets (originally an appropriation of La Casa de Papel–a Spanish Netflix series extremely popular in Algeria). The Mouradia Palace is the official residence of Bouteflika. Example.
Chiyata / Chiyatin
Language: Darija
Arabic: شياتة
Country: Algeria/Morocco
Definition: Brusher(s), derives from chita, meaning a brush
Usage: Refers to people who flatter powerful individuals for personal benefit. Example.
Chkara
Language: Darija
Arabic: شكارة
Country: Algeria
Definition: a plastic bag in which money is placed (used for bribes)
Usage: Used to designate corruption. Example.
Chkoupistan
Language: Darija
Arabic: شكوپي
Country: DZ
Definition: Chkoupi is a green seaweed that gets stuck in fishermen’s net, and synonym of a worthless catch. It has become an expletive, notably in the region of Oran, to describe a type of trash or male genitals.
Usage: Chkoupistan is used by Algerians degradingly to describe the dominance of trash in their country, mainly in reference to the failure and corruption of political elites.
Dhoubab electroni’i
Language: Fusha
Arabic: الذباب الإلكتروني
Country: Algeria
Definition: Electronic flies
Usage: Designates those complicit in social media propaganda / digital counter-movement who are spreading fake information.
Har(a)ga
Language: Darija
Arabic: حراقة
Country: Algeria/Morocco
Definition: Those who burn (their papers)
Usage: Refers to undocumented migrants leaving North Africa for Europe (see botti).
Hirak
Language: Fusha
Arabic: حراك
Country: Algeria/Morocco
Meaning: Movement
Usage: لحراك الشعبي (popular movement) The name given to the uprisings in Algeria and Morocco.
Hittiste
Language: Darija
Arabic: حيطيست
Country: Algeria
Definition: Wall-ist
Usage: An older term that designates the unemployed urban youth who seem to be literally “propping up” the city walls on the streets where they spend their time.
Hizb França
Language: Fusha
Arabic: حزب فرانس
Country: Algeria
Definition: The party of France
Usage: An old accusation targeting elements in the state apparatus, which first appeared in the 1980s and was notoriously used by members of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS).
Hizbist
Language: Darija
Arabic: حزبيت
Country: Algeria
Definition: Party-ist
Usage: Designates supporters of the FLN.
Hogra
Language: Darija
Arabic: حقرة
Country: Algeria/Morocco
Definition: Marginalization/Contempt/Oppression (from the root حقَر, to put down)
Usage: The word originated from Algeria in the 1980s. It has become a way to express a feeling of being the object of contempt, structural injustice, and humiliation in the Maghrib; The hagar is often associated with the arbitrary power of bureaucracies and state officials who make life unliveable.
Jaysh sha'ab khawa-khawa
Language: Darija
Arabic: جيش شعب خاوة خاوة
Country: Algeria
Definition: The army and the people are brothers
Usage: Expresses the solidarity between the army and the people, as the army is historically the emanation of the revolutionary masses. It was also a way to request the support of the military in the early stage of the movement.
Karama
Language: Fusha
Arabic: كرامة
Country: Algeria/Morocco
Definition: Dignity
Usage: A reoccurring theme in the uprisings; Protestors in Morocco and Algeria often framed their activities as a “march for dignity.” It is the antonym of hogra.
Kachiriste(s)
Language: Darija
Arabic: كاشيريست
Country: Algeria
Definition: From Kachir, an Algerian salami sausage
Usage: Used sarcastically to refer to the supporters of Bouteflika’s fifth term who were allegedly served kachir sandwiches in return for showing allegiance to the ex-president during his official campaign. Example.
Khamsa
Language: Darija
Arabic: الخمسة
Country: Algeria
Definition: Fifth (term)
Usage: “Makach al-Khamsa ya Bouteflika”–There is no fifth (mandate) Bouteflika.
Khobziste
Language: Darija
Arabic: خبزيست - خبز
Country: Algeria
Definition: Bread-ist
Usage: Those who “eat” from the regime; refers to widespread nepotism (see Cachiriste).
Klito leblad
Language: Darija
Arabic: كليتو البلاد
Country: Algeria
Definition: They ate the country
Usage: Slogan (often heard at football stadiums and usually followed by an insult “thieves or worst”), refers to corruption and the misuse of national resources. Example.
(La) Main de l’étranger
Language: French/Fusha
Arabic: الأيادي الخارجية (al-ayadi al-kharijiyya)
Country: Algeria/Morocco
Definition: The hand of the foreigner
Usage: Leaders across North Africa have tried to pin the protest on foreign manipulations as a way of discrediting the movement.
Ma’rifa
Language: Darija
Arabic: معريفة
Country: Algeria/Morocco
Definition: Acquaintance
Usage: Connections (for business or corruption)–but also nepotism.
(Al-)Makhzen
Language: Fusha
Arabic: المخزن
Country: Morocco
Definition: The place noun for the verb خزن, which means to store, to stock, to lay up, to hoard–so where things are stored
Usage: The Alaouite monarchy and its related interests/networks.
Mamfakinch
Language: Darija
Arabic: ما مفكنش
Country: Morocco
Definition: No concession
Usage: Moroccan media website co-founded just before the 20 February Movement in 2011, a slogan of Moroccan protestors.
Maranach habssin
Language: Darija
Arabic: ماراناش حابسين
Country: Algeria
Definition: We will not stop
Usage: A slogan that went viral during Ramadan 2019–a phrase uttered by an infuriated Algerian female on one of the local TV channels during the students’ marches against the regime on 21 May 2019.
Mubarda’
Language: Darija
Arabic: مبردع
Country: Algeria
Definition: Saddle (for a donkey)
Usage: Refers to those who are easily manipulated (by the regime).
(La) Momie
Language: French
Country: Algeria
Definition: Mummy
Usage: Refers to the zombie-like physical condition of Bouteflika.
Nasser Zefzafi
Proper Name
Arabic: ناصر الزفزافي
Country: Morocco
Meaning: The main figure of the Hirak in Morocco, currently in prison.
Nif
Language: Darija
Arabic: نيف
Country: Algeria
Definition: Nose (fusha انف)
Usage: Refers to honor and dignity; as in “nif algérien.” Many see this as distinctive of Algerians as a people. Example.
Parachutage
Language: French
Country: Morocco
Definition: Parachute drop
Usage: Refers to certain people getting jobs based on connections rather than merit–nepotism.
Poupiya
Language: Darija
Country: Algeria
Meaning: Doll (Bouteflika)
Usage: Bouteflika is unable to move and speak. He is thus portrayed as a puppet, a doll that one can move and manipulate. Example.
(Le) Pouvoir
Language: French
Country: Algeria
Definition: Power (the regime)
Usage: Long used to refer to the obscure nature of the Algerian regime, indicating a general uncertainty of who runs what.
Raina
Language: Darija
Arabic: راينا
Country: Algeria
Definition: Our will
Usage: Lbled bledna ndiru raina (البلاد بلادنا ونديرو راينا). In darija, ray means will/desire. Raina (possessive, plural): our will. “Lbled bledna ndiru raina” (lit: “the country is ours and we’ll act as we wish”) is a slogan that emerged during the Hirak to manifest the agency and sovereignty of the people (that is protected by acts 7 and 8 of the current Algerian Constitution).
Sa’iqa
Language: Fusha
Arabic: الصاعقة
Country: Algeria
Definition: A special force affiliated with the army (SSI: sections de securite et d’intervention de la gendarmerie), “shock troops.”
Usage: Mainly used in the slogan “Makach al-Khamsa ya Bouteflika, jibou l’BRI wo zidou sa3ika”–There is no fifth (mandate) Bouteflika, bring (we do not fear) the BRI and Sa3ika (police and army forces). Earlier versions of this slogan have emerged before the Hirak, mostly in football stadiums. During the Hirak, it was used to challenge the police state.
Silmiyya
Language: Fusha
Arabic: سلمية
Country: Algeria
Definition: Peaceful
Usage: Protestors in Algeria have repeatedly insisted that their movement is peaceful–an important strategy in facing the police. Example.
Silya Ziani
Proper Name
Arabic: سيليا الزياني
Country: Morocco
Usage: Known as the “singer of the Hirak,” she is from the Rif (Northern Morocco), which is an underdeveloped region that has historically been a place of unrest and revolt (i.e., the Rif war of 1920-1927; uprisings of 1958-1959). It is also the location where the Hirak movement started. The slogan is “Kulluna Silya, kulluna al-Rif," which means "We are all Silya; We are all the Rif.” Example.
(Le) Système
Language: French
Country: Algeria
Definition: System
Usage: A synonym for nidham/nizam (Arabic) or Pouvoir. All these terms describe an impersonal power structure based on corruption, violence, and manipulation. Example.
Thawra al-Ibtisam
Language: Fusha
Arabic: ثورة الابتسامة
Country: Algeria
Definition: The revolution of smiles
Uses: References the peaceful and festive nature of the uprising, as well as the sense of humor that characterizes the protests (chants, slogans, memes, and political jokes). Example.
(Les) Trois Bs
Language: French
Country: Algeria
Definition: Abdelkader Bensalah, Noureddine Bedoui et Tayeb Belaïz
Usage: A historical reference to the “three Bs” of the war of independence, responsible for the assassination of Abane Ramdane: Krim Belkacem, Abdelhafid Boussouf, and Lakhdar Bentobal. Example.
Vendredire
Language: French
Country: Algeria
Definition: A mix of the French words vendredi (Friday) and dire (to say)
Usage: As Algerians have engaged in repeated (now sixteen) protests on Friday, they have created this verb, which means “to protest on a Friday.” Example.
Win Rana Rayhin
Language: Darija
Arabic: وين رانا رايحين
Country: Algeria
Meaning: Where are we going?
Usage: Song heard during protests and circulating on social networks, which echoes the feeling of a confiscated revolution and perdition. Example.
Yetnahaw Ga’
Language: Darija
Arabic: يتنحاو قاع
Country: Algeria
Meaning: They shall all be removed
Usage: Currently the predominant slogan of the Algerian Hirak. The phrase became the slogan of the movement after an iconic TV interview. Rejecting the injunction to “speak Arabic” of the reporter, a young man explained in darija, that is to say, Algerian Arabic: “Yetnaḥāw gāʿ.” Example.
Zawali/a
Language: Darija
Arabic: زوالي
Country: Algeria
Meaning: Poor
Usage: Algerian protesters have claimed repeatedly to act in defense of the poor. Example.
[Click here to read Part 2 of this glossary]