Algerian Radio
The Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Bendouda, presided over the award ceremony for the first edition of the Emir Abdelkader Prize for Historical Research and Studies on Wednesday in Algiers, during which three Algerian researchers were honored.
The ceremony took place at the Moufdi-Zakaria Palace of Culture on the occasion of the commemoration of the second allegiance (Moubayaa) to Emir Abdelkader (February 4, 1833). The event was attended by the Advisor to the President of the Republic in charge of Education, Higher Education, Vocational Training and Culture, Nasreddine Bentifour; the Minister of Mujahideen and Rights Holders, Abdelmalek Tacherift; members of both chambers of Parliament; directors of cultural establishments; as well as writers and intellectuals.
The three researchers awarded for their work dedicated to Emir Abdelkader are Ouden Boughoufala in first place, Mohamed Rachid Miloud in second place, and Mohamed Besker in third place.
The Minister considered that, in the experience of Emir Abdelkader, the State was "the fruit of an act of conscience before being an apparatus, an idea before being an administration, and moral values before being laws," stressing that Emir Abdelkader "established the link between building an army and building a society, managing a battle and organizing life, and defending the land and protecting Man."
She added that in a world witnessing "a worrying decline in the values of international law and an expansion of the logic of hegemony," the experience of Emir Abdelkader is of "exceptional relevance in the current context, because it reminds us that sovereignty is not given, but built, and that legitimacy is not imposed, but stems from the will of the peoples."
Ms. Bendouda announced in this regard "the creation of the Emir Abdelkader documentary fund within the National Library (BNA)," so that it may serve as "a scientific space that gathers everything related to this illustrious personality."
During this ceremony, the first prize was awarded to teacher-researcher Ouadhan Bougheffala for his study entitled "Emir Abdelkader El Djazaïri, Project of State and Nation," while the second place went to Professor Mohamed Rachid Miloud for his work entitled "Emir Abdelkader, from the Tribe to the Nation and from the Bedouin Environment to the State, through Russian Sources." The third prize was awarded to Professor Mohamed Besker for the authentication of the manuscript entitled "Sourour al-Nadhir fi Akhbar Walidi al-Amir Abdelkader."
The scientific commission of the prize was composed of the Director of the National Book Centre, Djamel Yahiaoui; history researcher Abdelkader Boudjella; the Rector of the University of Tissemsilt, Abdelkader Dahdouh; as well as the researcher in contemporary history, Youcef Menasria.
On this occasion, Dr. and researcher Ahmed Bensaâda presented an overview of the project to build the museum and statue of Emir Abdelkader on the heights of the city of Oran (Mount Murdjadjou). He specified that it will be built according to international standards to reflect the stature of the Emir as a man of resistance, thought, and humanism, adding that this edifice will constitute "a pole of cultural, tourist, economic, educational, historical, and recreational attraction."
The Emir Abdelkader Prize for Historical Research and Studies, organized by the Ministry of Culture and Arts, is intended as a historical research competition for researchers and students.
The Ministry will proceed with the printing of the winning works and will award financial rewards amounting to one (1) million DA for the first prize, 500,000 DA for the second prize, and 300,000 DA for the third prize.
