Learning about my Algerian culture

Born in Douai, France, I completed my undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at the University of Lille, followed by a Master’s degree. My grandmother had Alzheimer’s and when I found out the PhD at Imperial would be looking at Alzheimer’s and brain imaging, I knew I wanted to do it.

My mum was a housewife, gave me a lot of attention and helped my education – she always wanted me to study music and know about our Algerian culture, including Arab songs, Arabic classes, learning about the history of Algeria and the Arab world.

I studied a lot of music and other Arabs were there, but at the age of 14, I was the first Arab to join the Municipal Orchestra of Auby - a small city located in Lille - in its 134 years of existence.

Feeling different and fighting clichés

When I was in primary school, I always felt different. A lot of other people thought I was weird because I knew Arabic/Algerian. There’s very much the stereotype in France that if you speak Arabic or Algerian Arabic you haven’t adapted enough to French society or can’t speak French very well. As a result, I felt quite alone a lot.

In France, you are allocated a high school based on location, but I was able to choose my high school because I had good results. But I felt different as most of my fellow students were the sons of politicians and doctors, and my background was completely different.

I was the only one with an Arab name. One teacher once said to me: “how are you the only Arab student here? Are you sure you got good results?” I realised then that I needed to fight clichés and that my name would always create a certain image in people’s minds.

I did, however, study Ancient Greek in high school – this was good for me because that’s where I discovered that the languages I already knew helped me to learn new languages better! The fact that my mum gave me so much knowledge helped me during my A-levels as I chose to study music and Greek.

Identity crisis

Anyone who is a child of immigrants has a kind of confusion about their culture and identity. You have to hide any differences in terms of background and religion, and the more you try and hide your differences, the more difficult it gets. I dislike the way people see the Algerian culture in France; I always felt like I had to show them the good side of it.

I kept thinking “Am I French? Am I Algerian?”, which has caused a bit of an identity crisis. My family celebrates Eid and we have a celebration in Algeria which is similar to Christmas called enayar. Everyone gathers and is offered gifts and food. Everyone cooks together too – traditional bread and sweets are served, such as tamina, a sweet made from toasted semolina and honey.

Tamina is usually made and shared amongst family, friends, neighbours when celebrating the birth of a newborn.

When I joined Imperial, no one in my team really knew about Algeria, so I shared small cookies my mum made. Everyone thinks of me as a French guy, but I always remind people of my Algerian heritage – I need to bring both parts to the College. Most other PhD students are European and I do feel like I am different to the rest of them, while also fighting French stereotypes too.