Algerian Radio
The sixth edition of the President of the Republic's Prize for Amazigh Literature and Language will be awarded this Monday on the occasion of the official national festivities of Yennayer 2976. Established in August 2020 by the decision of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, this prize is part of a policy to promote the Amazigh language and value literary creation in all its expressions.
For this edition, 103 candidates have been registered, enriching a mechanism that already counts more than 600 cumulative registrants since its launch. The winning works from previous editions are now available in the form of books or digital applications intended for researchers, academics, and media professionals.
It is in this context that the guest of the program "L'invité du jour" (The Guest of the Day) on Channel 3 of Algerian Radio, the Secretary General of the High Commission for Amazighity (HCA), Si El Hachemi Assad, highlighted this Monday that "this double celebration, Yennayer and the awarding of the President's Prize, now constitutes a structuring national event, both symbolic and cultural." He recalled that the festivities are taking place from January 10 to 12 in the Wilaya of Beni Abbes, a Wilaya newly created in 2020.
Giving Strong Meaning to Yennayer in Beni Abbes, a Newly Created Wilaya
According to Mr. Assad, this choice stems from a strategic decision. "The choice of Beni Abbes is that of the President of the Republic. It is about giving a strong meaning to this mission by celebrating Yennayer in a grandiose manner in a newly created Wilaya, by fully involving citizens, civil society, and local authorities," he explained.
For six months, the HCA has taken charge of the overall design of the event, in coordination with a national commission installed last September. "This commission is national in the sense that it was necessary to involve several partners to ensure content that is rich, coherent, and representative of the national dimension of Yennayer," specified the Secretary General of the HCA.
The 2026 edition is also distinguished by a major innovation: the organization of a cultural caravan departing from Algiers to Beni Abbes aboard a specially chartered train. "It is important to innovate with each edition. This year, we wanted to offer participants the possibility of traveling together as a caravan, via a train requisitioned for the event," stated Mr. Assad, thanking the transport and interior sectors for their support.
"Amazighity Constitutes an Authentic Foundation of Algerian Identity"
Regarding identity, the Secretary General of the HCA recalled that "Amazighity constitutes an authentic foundation of Algerian identity, in its complementarity with Islam and the Arabic language," specifying that this vision is enshrined in the Constitution of November 2020. "Tamazight is cited in the preamble, and Article 4 commits the State to promote the Amazigh language in all its linguistic variants in use on the national territory," he highlighted.
Recently received by the President of the Republic, the Secretary General of the HCA described this audience as a "strong sign of encouragement and support."
"We are reinforced in our commitment to serve this fundamental segment of national identity, in accordance with the guidelines of the President of the Republic," he concluded, recalling that celebrating Yennayer "is celebrating the attachment to the land, to the collective memory, and to the deep values of a plural and eternal Algeria."
