Lakhasly

Unlike Zohra Drif who was born in the west of Algeria on 28 December, 1934 in Tiaret, Kateb Yacine was born in the east in August 1929 in Constantine and died on 28 October, 1989 in France.For Zohra Drif, this event happened in primary school when her best friend Roselyne, failed the sixth-grade entrance exam, whereas Zohra passed it. Roselyne's reaction was so shocking that Zohra realised that in her friend's eyes she was just an 'Arab', an inferior person.Zohra Drif became a member of the FLN and played rticle of an active role in the party's activities.

Unlike Zohra Drif who was born in the west of Algeria on 28 December, 1934 in Tiaret, Kateb Yacine was born in the east in August 1929 in Constantine and died on 28 October, 1989 in France. These two educated figures experienced the French colonisation

When Zohra Drif was a primary-school pupil, things were going pretty well with her European friend, Roselyne; she thought that she was her best friend and that they were equal. Concerning Kateb Yacine, it was different. Indeed, there was an endless conflict between his mother and his French schoolteacher who represented another world with another language and another culture; a dominating and prestigious world.

However, they both experienced an important event which changed their lives and led them to become aware of their national identity and to find out the truth about the French. For Zohra Drif, this event happened in primary school when her best friend Roselyne, failed the sixth-grade entrance exam, whereas Zohra passed it. Roselyne's reaction was so shocking that Zohra realised that in her friend's eyes she was just an 'Arab', an inferior person. Concerning the high-school pupil, Kateb Yacine, the events which took place on 8 May, 1945 in Sétif transformed his life. He took part in the demonstrations and was arrested. His experience in prison helped him to feel close to the Algerian people and made him aware of their existence.

These childhood memories had a strong impact on their lives and ohra Dr personalities. Zohra Drif became a member of the FLN and played rticle of an active role in the party's activities. The young revolutionary, Kateb Yacine was taken with nationalist ideas of PPA (Algerian People's Party). He toured Algeria and France giving political talks. He also published several novels and plays, among them 'Nedjma' in 1956.

We must pay tribute to the struggle and courage of these two outstanding figures and to the millions of Algerian men and women who were determined to fight for freedom, dignity, independence and national sovereignty.