Culture and art in the Aurès are diverse. The Aurès is a vast territory of Algeria, and numerous artisanal activities are organized to represent the heritage of certain regions and provinces of eastern Algeria. Several artists from the Aurès participate in festivals and exhibitions throughout the country.

Crafts

Pottery According to several historians, pottery from the Aurès displays distinctive characteristics in its incised decoration and carinated forms, making it among the forms of pottery closest to the earliest forms of Berber art.

Origins "Although despite the Roman colonization of Lambaesis, the Chaoui Berbers remained apart from the great external currents", "one may therefore consider that this relief ornamentation (notches, ridges, bosses, etc.) is characteristic of genuine, or primitive, Berber pottery", wrote Arnold van GennepArnold van Gennep, Les poteries modelées d'Afrique du Nord, cited in À la rencontre de la poterie modelée en Algérie, Algiers, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, 1982, p. 119.. Analyzing this relief decoration, Gabriel Camps observed that "Aurès pottery alone is distinguished, among other features, by the multiplication of conical bosses on the body and handles, decoration which greatly contributes to its archaic appearance". Assuming a "Sicilian-Italic origin", he believed that this decoration, having spread during the Chalcolithic throughout a region extending from the coasts of Tunisia to the Aurès, and subsequently gradually disappearing with the advance of painted pottery, "would have survived in the Aurès stronghold"Gabriel Camps, Monuments et rites funéraires protohistoriques, Aux origines de la Berbérie, Paris, Arts et Métiers graphiques, 1962, pp. 324–325. Gabriel Camps's thesis is that "everything happens as if a flat-bottomed ceramic without painted decoration, but equipped with various appendages and incisions, had first penetrated, coming from Italy and the islands (Sardinia, Sicily, Pantelleria), into Tunisia and eastern Algeria, and as if this ceramic had subsequently been challenged and then eliminated by another wave which ignored incised or relief decoration but bore rich painted decoration. The pottery of the first style would have been preserved in the Aurès, while the second only penetrated it weakly" (op. cit., p. 394)..

Characteristics Decorated with reliefs or incisions, pottery from the Aurès is coated with a dark red or brown lacquer, called "louq", made from resins that are "cooked, crushed, dyed and shaped into sticks that harden as they cool", which is applied to the pottery while it is still hot at the end of firingÀ la rencontre de la poterie modelée en Algérie, Algiers, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, 1982, p. 119.. This practice is both ornamental and functional, as it waterproofs the pottery. The "tarbout", a plate or dish, and the carinated-profile cup are often decorated with designs of symbolic significance.

The "tarbout" has an original profile, with the rounded edge, without a flat surface, sloping slightly outward at four opposite points, often emphasized by notchesop. cit., p. 119.. These are also found on the rim of cups and milking pots.

The "fân", used to bake flatbread, is not glazed but is decorated with reliefs punctuated by lines and red circles.

Other pottery vessels, perhaps used as toys, are modeled in the shapes of animals, particularly birds.

Weaving

Since high-pile carpet-making is not a local technique, woven textiles, the "tellis", blankets, cushions and grain bags are characteristic of the style of the Aurès. Goat hair is often mixed with the wool.

The "tellis" generally consist of bands of colors, although they may sometimes be decorated with a border or several copper-colored lines. Broad dark registers, on which a decoration appears to be embroidered, sometimes interrupt the background formed by plain bands. Diamond-shaped medallions, themselves composed of networks of small diamonds, may also be interwoven across the entire surface of the "tellis".

The same diamond shapes are found on the bands of blankets and on the surfaces of cushionsJeux de trames en Algérie, Algiers, Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, 1975, pp. 112–114..

Jewelry

Titiana Benfoughal devoted a book specifically to jewelry and jewelers of the Aurès in 1997. Several types of jewelry were documented by her, including diadems, pendants, throat ornaments, earrings, necklaces, fibulae, breast ornaments, amulet boxes, mirror boxes, belts, bracelets, signet rings and pendants. Titiana Benfoughal also studied jewelry-making techniques.

Traditional clothing

Women wear the tajdidh (winter coat), made of thick white wool with brown bands and fastened with the amessak (pin). The Ougâ is an outdoor coat, similar to the tajdidh, but made of fine white wool and woven with white silk. The kettaf is also worn and is made with silk fabrics. During summer, women wear the althâm or kettâf, made of black cotton. The shoes are made of braided esparto fiber, from the feet to the ankles. When going out, women wear the belgha (sandal), made of goat skin, in red and yellow, with a flat sole. Women wear scarves and also a turban, which is put on last. The melhafa is worn during ceremonies.

For men, the vest (b'diya) is worn with a white or ochre sleeveless and collarless fabric. The belt (h' zam) is embroidered with ochre silk thread. The serouel (trousers) resembles those worn in the Algiers region. The shoes are moccasin-type, with flat soles, and are brown, black or white. Horsemen wear leather boots. The turban (ammama) is made of fabric embroidered with ochre silk on a white background and measures approximately 3 m; the man wraps it around his head. The burnous is similar to that of the Algiers region, and the fabric is made of camel wool. The kachabiya is worn in winter.

Music

Folklore is diverse throughout the regions of the Aurès.

Traditional music is well represented by numerous singers from the Aurès. The first singers to achieve international success were Aissa Jermouni and Ali KhencheliDominique Auzias, Algérie.. The Rahaba style is characteristic of the entire Aurès region. Several other musical styles also exist, such as Arabic Andalusian music, represented among Chaoui singers by Salim Hallali. Several singers from the Aurès were inspired by this style, including Youcef Boukhantech.

Women have also gained a place on the national stage. Algerian television broadcast songs by Thelja (Ya Saleh) and Beggar Hadda during the 1970s. Houria Aïchi has released several albums in France, as has Markunda Awras and the singer Dihya, named after the queen of the Aurès, who was supported by Messaoud Nedjahi, one of the most prominent Chaoui composers and lyricists. One of her best-known albums is Dzaier assa.

Another genre of modern Chaoui music became established in the region. This distinctive music combines influences from rock, blues, folk and raï in the Chaoui language and Arabic. During the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, several singers and musicians from the Aurès distinguished themselves in this genre, including Djamel Sabri of the group Les Berbères, also known as Djo, Massinissa, Aïssa Brahimi, Nouari Nezzar, Katchou, Nacerdine Hora and Belbeche, among others, all of whom began performing in Chaoui. Other, younger performers use exclusively the Chaoui language, such as the group Tafert, Youba and Youress Sami. Some musical instruments are characteristic of the region, such as the gasba and bendir, while others such as the zorna are characteristic of Eastern music as a whole, including in Turkey. Many people incorrectly refer to this genre as "Staifi" because Arabic is used, whereas the music itself is Chaoui.

The Iwal Group from Tkout, founded by Nasrine and Fayssal, revolutionized modern Chaoui song by breaking taboos through a style incorporating theatre and singing. The group performed at the Algiers Opera.

International Timgad Music Festival

The International Timgad Music Festival, in Timgad, is organized each year by the festival commission in cooperation with the National Office of Culture and Information and the Batna Province.

It was established in 1967 Festival website and had several names. It was initially called the Mediterranean Festival, before becoming the Festival of Popular Arts in 1973.

The annual cultural festival takes place every July, although at one point in its history it was suspended from 1986 to 1996. It subsequently became a destination for numerous internationally renowned stars.

Aurès Song Festival in Batna The Friends of Art and Culture Association was established in , bringing together several personalities from the Aurès, including Brahim Bouziane, Khaled Bouali, Hadj Tayeb, Ali Guerbabi and Chérif MerzoukiNadia Bouseloua, Azeddine Guerfi, Rachid Mokhtari, Philippe Thiriez, Aurès, Vivre La Terre Chaouie, Chihab Éditions, Algiers, 2011, p. 32, ISBN 978-9961-63-839-2.. It was chaired by Hamid Meziani. In 1987, it organized a five-day festival in Batna. The festival brought together singers, musical groups and painters. The event was covered only by Algeria's Radio 2 channel and the local newspaper El-Aoures. Among the invited singers were Salim Souhali, Salah Boumaaraf, Mihoub, Hacen Dadi and Nouari Nezzar. Traditional Chaoui song was represented by Mohand Ouamer, Aissa Guellil, the Yabous group, Errefaâ, Idhourar and Chlaâlaâ. Modern groups included Your, Amenay Anzar, Kimel and Thiguiyyeres, who came from several provinces of the Aurès to attend.

A major exhibition of painting, jewelry and pottery, as well as a fantasia parade, took place during the festival.

Musical texts Oral poetry, tales and legends are studied by specialists in literature and linguistics. The texts are recited by the Medaha and Gouaras (orators).

Dance

Chaoui clothing (burnous), the horse, the rifle and ululations are part of Aurès dance. Some forms of dance include Rahaba, Mahzam, Trig el khil, Lahawawi, Izlen, Tigougaine or Taourial, Aourial, Zorna, Sebaha, Izlen, Rekrouki (gasba, mawal), L'azzekar, Tinzarine, Gasba, Aissawa, fkirettes, Allaoui, ghiyata, tabla, staifi, Batni and gnawi. Each region and tribe has its own style of dance. The Çrawi has variants such as Dmam, Çalhi, Rakruki and AyashMaya Saïdani, Musique et danse algérienne.

Irahaben and fantasia Rahaba and baroud Fantasia Tahriba parade Dance specific to women Abdawi Bandu Trig al-khîl Mahzam or zandali Balbari

Literature Several writers have written in both Arabic and French, including Kateb Yacine.

Literature before Algerian independence Anna Gréki was a writer and activist for the cause of the National Liberation FrontFrantz Fanon: portrait, by Alice Cherki. Published by Seuil, 2000. ISBN 2-02-036293-7, p. 236.. André Gide visited the Aurès. He was a friend of Mohamed Hamouda Bensai.

The Swiss novelist Isabelle Eberhardt (1877–1904) lived in Batna in the Zmella district.

Several authors of French origin also wrote books dealing with themes related to the Aurès and the city of Batna, including Jean-Pierre Marin, Jean-Noël Pancrazi, Liliane Raspail, Jean Pèrés and Eugène Delessert, among others.

French-language literature Several authors from Batna have written books, including Mohamed Nadir Sebaa, Abderezzak Hellal, Beïda Chikhi, a Doctor of State and professor at the Sorbonne, Hamid Benchaar, among others.

Messaoud Nedjahi wrote several novels in French about the life of the people of the AurèsProfession: infirmière, by Messaoud Nedjahi. Published by Éditions Publibook. ISBN 2-7483-3522-8. online book.. Liliane Amri, married to a Chaoui man, is the author of the novel La Vie à tout prix. Her book is an autobiography describing life in the Aurès, particularly that of women from the 1960s to the 1990s. She speaks Chaoui fluently and contributed to the development of the Aurès region.