MAHLAKI YA EL BLIDA
  • FRANCAIS - Accueil
  • ENGLISH - Home
  • About
  • A propos
  • Geography
  • Geographie
  • Blida in olden time
    • The foundation of Blida
    • Blida under French occupation
    • Historical Criticism
  • Blida à l'époque ancienne
    • La fondation de Blida
    • Blida sous l'occupation Française
    • Critique Historique
  • The founder
    • Sidi el Kebir in Pictures
  • Sidi el Kebir
    • Sidi el Kebir en Images
  • Sidi Yacoub
    • Sidi Yacoub IN PICTURES
  • Sidi Acoub
    • Sidi Acoub en Images
  • Bibane el Blida
  • Les portes de Blida
  • Town square
    • Place Ettoute in morning
    • Place Ettoute at sunset
    • Place Ettoute at Night
  • Place Ettoute
    • Place Ettoute le matin
    • Place Ettoute au coucher du soleil
    • Place Ettoute la nuit
  • Jardin Bizot
    • Jardin Bizot in Pictures
  • le Jardin vert
    • Jardin Bizot en Images
  • Music Nostalgia
  • Ki kanet el Blida
  • MAHLAKI SONG
  • MAHLAKI la chansonette
  • BLIDA SNAPSHOTS
  • Photos Instantanés de BLIDA
  • Disclaimer
  • Informations sur Le site
  • Contact us
  • Contactez-Nous
  • SITE MAP
  • PLAN DU SITE
Picture

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.
Picture
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.
Picture
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
Picture
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.
Picture
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.
Picture
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

CLICK HERE

Picture
Picture

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   >>
Picture
HISTORICAL CRITICISM: It is important to establish facts from accurate and reliable sources
Picture
​​For those born and bred there, ​Blida is more than a hometown, it is a culture and lifestyle of its own
Picture
ABOUT US 
​Home
About
Geography               
Blida in Olden time
The foundation of Blida
​Blida under French occupation
The founder
Sidi Yacoub
Bibane el Blida
​Town square
Jardin Bizot
​Music nostalgia
Mahlaki song 
PHOTO GALLERIES
​Snapshots of Blida
Place Ettoute in morning
Place Ettoute at sunset
Place Ettoute at night
Sidi el Kebir in pictures
Sidi Yacoub in pictures
Jardin Bizot in Pictures
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
​
Disclaimer
HELP
​
Historical Criticism
CONTACT
​Contact Us
Site Map
Picture
© 2020 www.mahlakiyaelblida.org 
Site design & photography SM www.mahlakiyaelblida.org  
Picture
Pour ceux qui sont nés et ont grandi à Blida, c'est beaucoup plus qu'une ville natale pour eux, c'est une culture et un style de vie qui lui est propre
Picture
À PROPOS DE NOUS 
Acceuil
À​ propos
Geographie              
Blida à l'époque ancienne
La fondation de Blida
​Blida sous l'occupation franacaise
Sidi el Kebir
Sidi Acoub
Les portes de Blida
Place Ettoute
Jardin vert
​Ki kanet el Blida
Mahlaki la chansonette
GALERIES DES PHOTOS
Instantanés de Blida
Place Ettoute le matin
Place Ettoute au coucher du soleil
Place Ettoute la nuit
Sidi el Kebir en images
Sidi Yacoub en images
Jardin Bizot en images
RECONNAISSANCE
​Informations sur le site
AIDE
​Critque historique
​CONTACT
​Contactez-nous
Plan du site
Picture
© 2020 www.mahlakiyaelblida.org
​Conception du site & photographie SM www.mahlakiyaelblida.org
  • FRANCAIS - Accueil
  • ENGLISH - Home
  • About
  • A propos
  • Geography
  • Geographie
  • Blida in olden time
    • The foundation of Blida
    • Blida under French occupation
    • Historical Criticism
  • Blida à l'époque ancienne
    • La fondation de Blida
    • Blida sous l'occupation Française
    • Critique Historique
  • The founder
    • Sidi el Kebir in Pictures
  • Sidi el Kebir
    • Sidi el Kebir en Images
  • Sidi Yacoub
    • Sidi Yacoub IN PICTURES
  • Sidi Acoub
    • Sidi Acoub en Images
  • Bibane el Blida
  • Les portes de Blida
  • Town square
    • Place Ettoute in morning
    • Place Ettoute at sunset
    • Place Ettoute at Night
  • Place Ettoute
    • Place Ettoute le matin
    • Place Ettoute au coucher du soleil
    • Place Ettoute la nuit
  • Jardin Bizot
    • Jardin Bizot in Pictures
  • le Jardin vert
    • Jardin Bizot en Images
  • Music Nostalgia
  • Ki kanet el Blida
  • MAHLAKI SONG
  • MAHLAKI la chansonette
  • BLIDA SNAPSHOTS
  • Photos Instantanés de BLIDA
  • Disclaimer
  • Informations sur Le site
  • Contact us
  • Contactez-Nous
  • SITE MAP
  • PLAN DU SITE