Setif

(Djemila has some of greatest Roman ruins in North Africa)

My book of rai on Algeria begins in the Wilaya of Setif in North East Algeria where my family is from. Setif is south of the Babor mountains of the Kabylie.

The Romans called Setif Sitfis. The province of Mauretania Sitifensis was established around 300, with Sitifis as the main city.

The Moderrn city of Setif was built by the French colonials. The amusement park in the center of the city is a more recent addition. There is a Byzantine ruin next to it.

My friend Oussama attends the University of Setif and also maintains a French language website about all things Staifi.

Setif is well connected by rail and road to other cities in Algeria. The local economy trades in grains and livestock from the surrounding areas and factories produce semolina flour, couscous and pasta.

I have relatives who live in the city who I did not spend much time with. Most of my time in the Wilaya was spent on our family farm in a village. It is somewhere between Ain el Kabira (photo below) and the city of Setif.

 

Comments

[Farid]

I'm working on fixing the photos. There are still things about typepad that I'm learning.

[Ed McGaugh]

Hi Farid,
Sadly, none of the pictures are working.