Centuries-old Algerian indigenous tradition champions sharing

People attend a Tamechrit gathering, part of Algeria's Amazigh New Year's traditions, in Bajaia, on January 11, 2025. (AFP)
People attend a Tamechrit gathering, part of Algeria's Amazigh New Year's traditions, in Bajaia, on January 11, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 01 February 2025

Centuries-old Algerian indigenous tradition champions sharing

People attend a Tamechrit gathering, part of Algeria's Amazigh New Year's traditions, in Bajaia, on January 11, 2025. (AFP)
  • Berbers are descendants of pre-Arab North Africans, whose historic homelands stretched from the Canary Isles and Morocco to the deserts of western Egypt

BEJAIA, Algeria: In a village nestled in the mountains of northeastern Algeria, locals and visitors gathered under a cold winter sky to celebrate Tamechrit, a centuries-old Berber tradition rooted in sharing.
Seeking to preserve a practice that faded during the Algerian civil war of the 1990s, villagers marked Tamechrit with Berber music and food on the occasion coinciding in January with the Amazigh new year.
The minority community of Berbers refer to themselves as the Amazigh, meaning “free people.” They have long fought for recognition for their ancient culture and language in modern states across North Africa.




Children dressed in traditional outfits watch as men prepare portions of meat as part of Algeria's Tamechrit, based on the Amazigh New Year's traditions, in Bajaia, on January 11, 2025. (AFP)

Berbers are descendants of pre-Arab North Africans, whose historic homelands stretched from the Canary Isles and Morocco to the deserts of western Egypt.
“We hope to perpetuate this tradition during cultural or religious festivals,” bringing together different people from the village and even those who have left, Dahmane Barbacha, a 41-year-old from Ath Atig village, told AFP.
Children wore temporary Amazigh face tattoos at the event that dates back to the 13th century, according to historian Saleh Ahmed Baroudi.




Men prepare portions of meat as part of Algeria's Tamechrit, based on the Amazigh New Year's traditions, in Bajaia, on January 11, 2025. (AFP)

Tamechrit means “offering” in Tamazight, the community’s language recognized as an official language alongside Arabic in Algeria.
It represents “an occasion for gathering, fraternity, and reconciliation between families” across Amazigh villages, said Baroudi, who teaches contemporary Algerian history.
Different regions of the country use other names for the custom, he added.
The merrymaking is also held to observe major Islamic events such as the fasting month of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, and Ashura.
It is often held in Zawiyas, small places for worship and religious teaching, usually where a local saint or holy figure lived and was buried.
Baroudi said most of those sites are in mountainous regions, adding to the “spiritual dimension” of Tamechrit.

The festival begins days in advance, when men from the village collect donations to purchase cattle whose meat is later distributed equally among families.
During the event a communal meal — usually couscous prepared by village women — is served to everyone, regardless of social standing.
Ammar Benkherouf, a 36-year-old living in France, said he has been taking annual leaves in recent years to attend the ceremony.
“I can’t describe the happiness it brings me to help keep this heritage alive,” he told AFP.
By midday, the communal couscous is served to villagers and visitors while volunteers distribute the portioned meat around the village’s households.
Tamechrit had also been a tool for fostering solidarity during Algeria’s Independence War against French colonial rule from 1954-1962, according to Baroudi.
The ritual then faded during the country’s civil war between 1992 and 2002, a conflict between authorities and Islamist groups that claimed the lives of around 200,000 after the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party won municipal and legislative elections.
Tamechrit then “made a comeback in the early 2000s” with the end of the civil war, said Baroudi.
Today, Tamechrit continues to bring together villagers and resolve conflicts between them.
Farhat Medhous, a 31-year-old who heads a cultural association in Ath Atig, said his group now looks to “restore women’s participation in these traditions inherited from their ancestors.”
He said that, traditionally, women held their own gatherings in a separate area from the men’s, but their involvement diminished even after the civil war.
In addition, he added, the association aims at teaching the younger generations Tamechrit values, meaning sharing and reconciliation.
He said this year’s festivity was organized by villagers aged 18 to 40.
“We have held activities for children to teach them the values of volunteerism and community,” said Medhous. “This prepares them to preserve these traditions as they grow older.”


Pakistan confiscates 18 lions kept as pets in crackdown after attack

Pakistan confiscates 18 lions kept as pets in crackdown after attack
Updated 07 July 2025

Pakistan confiscates 18 lions kept as pets in crackdown after attack

Pakistan confiscates 18 lions kept as pets in crackdown after attack
  • The lion, which was kept without a license in a house in Lahore, was confiscated and sent to a local safari park
  • Keeping exotic animals as pets has been fueled by social media, with owners often showing off their animals online as status symbols

LAHORE: Eighteen lions kept illegally as pets have been confiscated in Pakistan’s Punjab region, authorities said on Monday as they launched a crackdown after one escaped from a house and attacked a woman and two children.
The woman suffered scratches and bruises, and the two children, aged five and seven, were hospitalized after the attack last week but their injuries were not life-threatening, provincial wildlife officials said.
The lion, which was kept without a license in a house in Lahore, was confiscated and sent to a local safari park, said Mubeen Elahi, director general of the provincial Wildlife and Parks Department. The owner was later arrested, police said.
Keeping exotic animals as pets has been fueled by social media, with owners often showing off their animals online as status symbols.
“According to the new regulations for keeping big cats, no individual is allowed to keep a lion without a license, without adhering to the required cage size, and without following other standard operating procedures,” Elahi said.
The punishment is up to seven years in jail.
As well as confiscating the 18 animals, the department raided 38 lion and tiger breeding farms and arrested eight people for violating the rules, he said, adding that all farms will be inspected by the end of this week.
There are 584 lions and tigers in homes and breeding farms in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, he said.
“I know plenty of people who keep big cats as pets,” said Qaim Ali, 30, who himself had a lion but sold it after it attacked his nephew.
“Most of them are not interested in breeding but keep them as a symbol of power and influence in society.” 


Djokovic’s daughter steals the show at Wimbledon with her victory dance

Djokovic’s daughter steals the show at Wimbledon with her victory dance
Updated 06 July 2025

Djokovic’s daughter steals the show at Wimbledon with her victory dance

Djokovic’s daughter steals the show at Wimbledon with her victory dance
  • Tara Djokovic’s victory dance brought a smile to dad’s face. Everybody else’s, too

LONDON: Novak Djokovic won the match on Center Court on Saturday, but it was his 7-year-old daughter who really wowed Wimbledon.
Tara Djokovic’s victory dance brought a smile to dad’s face. Everybody else’s, too.
Djokovic had just clinched his 100th Wimbledon singles win and was asked during his on-court interview to shed light on the little dance he’s been doing recently.
He said it’s done to a song called “Pump It Up.”
“There’s a song with my kids — look my daughter’s doing it right now,” a smiling Djokovic said as he looked into the crowd. “You want to show it darling?”
The TV camera then panned to Tara, who then showed everyone how it’s done: pump your fists down, then left, right and overhead.
The crowd roared.
“She’s the master. It’s a little tradition we have right now. Hopefully we can keep going so we can keep pumping more in Wimbledon.”


China’s first Legoland opens to visitors in Shanghai

China’s first Legoland opens to visitors in Shanghai
Updated 05 July 2025

China’s first Legoland opens to visitors in Shanghai

China’s first Legoland opens to visitors in Shanghai
  • The resort, which opened Saturday, is the first in China
  • It is one of 11 parks across the world and was built with 85 million Lego bricks

SHANGHAI: A giant 26-meter (85-foot) Lego figure named Dada welcomed visitors to the new Legoland resort in Shanghai.

The resort, which opened Saturday, is the first in China. It is one of 11 parks across the world and was built with 85 million Lego bricks.

Among the main attractions is Miniland, which replicates well-known sights from across the world using Lego bricks. It features landmarks across China like Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and Shanghai’s Bund waterfront. There’s also a boat tour through a historic Chinese water town built with Lego bricks.

“My first impression is it is a good recreation, like a real fairyland of Lego,” said Ji Yujia, a Lego fan who was there on opening day.

The resort was developed in conjunction with the Shanghai government by Merlin Entertainments and the LEGO Group.

Visitors were greeted by performances featuring Legoland characters. Tickets range from $44 (319 yuan) to $84 (599 yuan).


River Seine reopens to first Paris swimmers after century-long ban

River Seine reopens to first Paris swimmers after century-long ban
Updated 05 July 2025

River Seine reopens to first Paris swimmers after century-long ban

River Seine reopens to first Paris swimmers after century-long ban
  • The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics
  • A few dozen swimmers arrived ahead of the Saturday morning opening for the long awaited moment

PARIS: The River Seine reopened to Parisian swimmers on Saturday morning for the first time since 1923, offering locals and tourists a welcome respite after a scorching temperatures.

A few dozen swimmers arrived ahead of the opening at 8:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) for the long awaited moment, diving into the water under the watchful eye of lifeguards, an AFP journalist said.

The seasonal opening of the Seine for swimming is seen as a key legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympics, when open water swimmers and triathletes competed in its waters which were specially cleaned for the event.

The swimming zones are equipped with changing rooms, showers, and beach-style furniture, offering space for 150 to 300 people to relax, lay out their towels, and unwind from the city’s hustle and bustle.

The promise to lift the swimming ban dates back to 1988, when then-mayor of Paris and future president Jacques Chirac first advocated for its reversal.


Australian man dies from bat bite

Australian man dies from bat bite
Updated 03 July 2025

Australian man dies from bat bite

Australian man dies from bat bite
  • The virus has been found in species of flying foxes and insect-eating microbats
  • The victim’s condition rapidly deteriorates, leading to paralysis, delirium, convulsions and death

Sydney: An Australian man has died from an “extremely rare” rabies-like infection transmitted by a bat bite, health officials said Thursday.

The man in his 50s was bitten by a bat carrying Australian bat lyssavirus several months ago, the health service in New South Wales said.

“We express our sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends for their tragic loss,” NSW Health said in a statement.

“While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it.”

The man from northern New South Wales, who has not been identified, was this week listed as being in a “critical condition” in hospital.

The virus — a close relative to rabies, which does not exist in Australia — is transmitted when bat saliva enters the human body through a bite or scratch.

First symptoms can take days or years to appear.

Early signs of the disease are flu-like — a headache, fever and fatigue, the health service said.

The victim’s condition rapidly deteriorates, leading to paralysis, delirium, convulsions and death.

There were only three previous cases of human infection by Australian bat lyssavirus since it was first identified in 1996 — all of them fatal.

People should avoid touching or handling bats, as any bat in Australia could carry lyssavirus, the New South Wales health service said.

“If you or someone you know is bitten or scratched by a bat, you need to wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes right away with soap and water and apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action,” it said.

“Patients then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine.”

The virus has been found in species of flying foxes and insect-eating microbats, NSW Health said.

The type of bat involved in the latest fatality has not been identified.