... In [Oran] this former French colonial city there are few traces of a decade of Islamic violence that killed more than 150,000 people, most of them civilians, according to human rights groups. The young people of Oran are in the vanguard of the large number of Algerians who want a Western-influenced lifestyle or simply dream of leaving the North African country for a better life abroad. Western diplomats in Algiers say their embassies receive more visa applications than any other country in the world. French President Jacques Chirac was greeted by shouts of "visas, visas" when he visited Algeria last year.
| Chirac doesn't speak English so he thought they were saying "viva, viva". |
Many young people test the boundaries of Islam, the official religion. "They want to drink alcohol, have sex and listen to house music, like in many countries around the world," said Kada Aradj, a local disc jockey and popular radio host. "Algeria’s going through a new independence struggle and this time it’s against the status quo, and authorities are not prepared," he said at the trendy Lounge cafe where DJs mix local Rai and Western music. ....
| How can you keep them down on the farm after they've seen the bright lights of Oran? |
Oran is known as Algeria’s most liberal city and famous for its entrepreneurial spirit. Streets are lined with shops selling the latest mobile phones, CDs, DVDs and fashions. "The joke of Oran is that there are more cabarets than mosques," said Anis, a construction worker. Oran has bars, restaurants, nightclubs and cabarets, with music shows and women selling sex. More are due to open this year, a sign that Algeria that is returning to normality and foreign capital is coming back after the so-called dark years. "Many young want to leave Algeria because they say there is no future here," said Amina Ikhalef, a 20-year-old student who works at her sister’s Internet cafe. "They’re very influenced by the Internet and cable television." Algeria has the highest penetration of satellite dishes per inhabitant, all beaming hundreds of network channels from around the world. Another indication of how many yearn for another kind of life is the proliferation of Internet cafes. Algeria has several thousand and in Oran there is one on almost every street. .... |