Sidi El Kebir

SIDI EL KEBIR 'THE FOUNDER'

Sid Ahmed el Kebir was a pious and knowledgeable Muslim man. In 1519, he travelled and settled at the convergence of the "Oued Taberkachent and "Chaabet ar-Romman" ‘Ravin des Grenades’, which is known as “Oued (River) Sidi el Kebir”, 2km from Blida’s city centre. A zaouia (mausoleum) was set around this pious man. It is in the Beni Saleh tribe area where Sid Ahmed el Kebir first stayed.

ZAOUIA OF SIDI EL KEBIR: A mausoleum with a long and rich past

Sid Ahmed El Kebir is said he has travelled and visited many places before coming to Blida. He visited Makkah, Damascus, Cordoba, and Istanbul and was known for his wisdom, leadership and negotiation skills. In his zaouia he taught the Quran, Islamic teachings, science and different life skills.

In his time he managed to negotiate peaceful resolutions between the local tribes in regard to the ownership and distribution of the river water. Sid Ahmed El Kebir helped by fighting alongside the locals in the Spanish invasion of Algeria. He also aided the Muslim Spanish refugees who fled Spain after they have been persecuted.

The arrival of the Andalusians

In 1533 Pacha Kheirddine, Bey (Sovereign) of Algiers (known as Barbarossa), let thousands of Spanish Muslims settle in Algeria, granting them protection after they have fled persecution in Spain (After the fall of the Muslim 'al Andalus' (Andalusia) in the Iberian Peninsulla, known as the ‘Reconquista’ in 1492).

Sid Ahmed el Kebir negotiated the freedom of many Spanish Muslims. Some of these refugees were brought to settle on the right bank of Chaabet ar-Romman (Oued Sidi el Kebir). Many Andalusians settled in the area of Blida. Some were brought from Chenoua, near Tipasa (a coastal area around 40km from Blida) after having had trouble to settle with local tribes. Sid Ahmed el Kebir offered them protection and moved them near Oued Chiffa, unfortunately the local tribes were not happy with the refugees being in their area. Again they moved on, this time to Blida where the local tribe of Ouled Soltan provided them with a space to build provisional habitation in the area between el Djoun and Bab Edzair.

THE ANDALUSIANS: Contribute with their knowledge to build the town

The foundation of Blida as a town was made
possible after Sid Ahmed el Kebir managed to unify the local tribes

THE SPIRITUAL LEADER: Sid el Kebir settled the conflict of water between the tribes

Sid Ahmed el Kebir founded Blida in 1535 with the help and support of the Ottoman Pacha Kheirddine, the Bey (Sovereign) of Algiers who visited him in Blida with his son Agha Hacen and his father Chalabi Ramdhan. The local religious representatives of the local tribes of Beni Saleh, Ouled Soltane, Ouled Hadjar Sid Ali and others also played a great role in the foundation of Blida.

Pacha Kheirddine ordered the construction of the first Mosque in Blida, in the area which is known as 'Place Ettoute' (Place 1st November 1954) - known at the time of the French occupation as Clemenceau and Place d’Armes).
A hamam (public bath) and a communal oven for bread were also constructed in the ‘Djoun’ area for the use of the locals.

The skilful man

Sid Ahmed el Kebir was more than a religious man. He had different skills; he helped the local inhabitants on how to improve in their daily life. He and his companions, and the Muslim refugees from Andalusia had the knowledge and education that they acquired in Spain and managed to divert the water from the Atlas Mountain to a single place known as ‘Oued Sidi el Kebir’.

They were fine masters in water irrigation techniques at the time; building Sequiates (an open channel of irrigation and waterway with a purpose to carry water from one place to another) and basins allowing the water running from the south to the north area of Blida.

Flooding of the area from the mountain and the oued (river) were taken into account and so the system was designed to avoid any water overflow. Vast areas of Mitidja benefited greatly from this water irrigation system. Alongside the Andalusians, Sid Ahmed el Kebir and the locals started the plantation of oranges, mandarins, lemon and other fruit and vegetables. Leather broidery was another industry that was introduced. The Andalusians greatly contributed to the housing architecture and construction in the area too. Their knowledge and different skills contribute in shaping and building the town of Blida. The town was flourishing both culturally and economically. Sid Ahmed el Kebir died in 1540 at the age of 70, leaving three sons Sidi Abdelaziz, Sidi Bel-Abbes and Sidi el Moubarek. He is buried in his Zaouia where he first settled.

OUED SIDI EL KEBIR: Natural water source

Vast areas of Mitidja benefited greatly from the water irrigation system.
Alongside the Andalusians, Sid Ahmed el Kebir and the
locals started the plantation of oranges, mandarins, lemon and other fruit and vegetables.

His father Sidi Belkacem is also buried in his zaouia. For the local Blideens and other people from neighbouring parts of Blida and Algeria, his zaouia has become a day out trip to visit ‘the place of this great noble and pious man’, and to enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding Oued Sidi el Kebir in the heart of the scenic Mitidja plain. Sid Ahmed el Kebir has brought both spiritual and social life to the area of Blida. He was a wise and eminent person and will always be as the locals say.

A DAY TRIP: Enjoying the beautiful scenery of Sidi el Kebir and the Mitidja plain

The foundation of Blida as a town was also made possible after Sid Ahmed el Kebir managed to unify the local tribes of Beni Saleh, Ouled Soltan, Ouled Hadjar Sid Ali and others who were often fighting among themselves. Blida’s birth is mainly associated to its founder Sid Ahmed el Kebir. It is him who gave it the name of el Boulaida. It is the diminutive of the Arabic word bilad (country)/belda (city), which becomes in Algerian Arabic dialect Blida and used by the French during their colonisation of Algeria.

PHOTO GALLERY - PICTURESQUE SIDI EL KEBIR

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HISTORY FROM THE DISTANT PAST

History is a sensitive and delicate subject that relies on many factors. How many ancient written manuscripts of Blida are in existence? How much of this heritage was protected against theft, negligence and disintegrated through natural causes such as heat, light, inadequate storage, etc. How many preventive measures were there to preserve archives of centuries ago? R E A D M O R E >>