List of notable Algerians

Notable Algerians include:

Artists

See also: List of Algerian women artists

Writers (including poets)

See also: List of Algerian women writers

Assia Djebar

Moufdi Zakaria

• Ferhat Abbas (1899–1985), political leader and essayist
• Mohamed Aïchaoui (1921–1959), political leader and journalist
• Abdelkader Alloula (born 1939), playwright
• Al-Akhdari (1512–1575), Arab-Algerian poet, Alim, Astronomer, Jurist and Logician of sherifian descent.
• Sidi Lakhdar Ben Khlouf, (1479–1585) Algerian poet and warrior.
• Malek Alloula (born 1937), poet, writer, and critic
• Djamal Amrani (1935–2005), poet and essayist
• Jean Amrouche (1906–1962), 20th-century poet and writer
• Taos Amrouche (1913–1976), singer and writer
• Apuleius (c. 125–c. 180 C.E.), Latin prose writer
• Mohammed Arkoun (born 1928), scholar and thinker
• Leila Djabali (born 1933)
• Zighen Aym (born 1957), writer and engineer
• Farida Belghoul (born 1958), author
• Omar Belhouchet (born 1954), journalist
• Mohammed Benchicou (born 1952), director and publisher of the Algerian newspaper Le Matin
• Salah Benlabed (born 1950), architect, academic, novelist and poet
• Latifa Ben Mansour (born 1950), writer, psychoanalyst, and linguist
• Malek Bennabi (born 1905), writer and philosopher
• Rachid Boudjedra (born 1941), poet, novelist, playwright and critic
• Mohamed Cherak, journalist
• Hélène Cixous, feminist writer
• Mohammed Dib (1920–2003), 20th-century writer
• Tahar Djaout (1954–1993), poet, journalist, critic
• Assia Djebar (born 1936), novelist, translator and filmmaker
• Mouloud Feraoun (1913–1962), writer and independence war hero
• Mohamed Hassaïne (1945–1994), journalist
• Miloud Hmida (born 1961), poet, critic, translator
• Yasmina Khadra (also known as Mohamed Moulessehoul) (born 1955), writer
• Aïssa Khelladi, journalist, novelist and playwright
• Ahmed Mahsas (1923–2013), political leader and writer
• Fodil Mezali (born 1959), journalist and writer
• Hocine Mezali (born 1938), journalist and writer
• Rachid Mimouni (1945–1995), writer, poet
• Ahlam Mostaghanemi, writer
• Othmane Senadjki (1959–2010), journalist
• Kateb Yacine (1929–1989), 20th-century writer
• Moufdi Zakaria (1908–1977), lyricist of the Algerian national anthem "Kassaman"

New media

• Maurice Benayoun, artist and theorist
• Yves Saint Laurent (designer), clothing and fashion designer

Actors

• Hadj Abderrahmane, actor and comedian
• Allalou, playwright, theatre director, and actor known as the father of Algerian theater
• Mahieddine Bachtarzi, singer of opera (tenor), actor, writer, and director of the TNA (Théâtre National Algérien)
• Jean-Pierre Bacri, actor and screenwriter
• M'hamed Benguettaf, actor and playwright
• Jean Benguigui, stage, screen, and television actor
• Dali Benssalah, actor in James Bond movie No Time To Die, 2021
• Biyouna, singer, actress and comedian
• Mohamed Bouchaïb, Libya-born Algerian actor
• Sofia Boutella, dancer, model and actress
• Patrick Bruel, singer, actor, and professional poker player
• Alain Chabat, actor and director
• Mohamed Chouikh, filmmaker
• Mohamed Fellag, actor and comedian
• Khaled Habib, singer, songwriter, composer, actor, film director
• Roger Hanin, film actor and director
• Sid Ali Kouiret, actor
• Rachid Ksentini, actor and comedian
• Rouiched, comedy actor
• Lyes Salem, actor and film director
• Hadj Smaine Mohamed Seghir, actor, director, and man of stage
• Patrick Timsit, comedian, writer, and film director
• Larbi Zekkal, actor and comedian
• Marlène Jobert, actress, singer and author
• Eva Green, actress and model

Directors and filmmakers

• Merzak Allouache, film director
• Abdelkader Alloula, theatre producer
• Jean-Luc Azoulay, television producer
• Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina, film director, Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Festival
• Ahmed Rachedi, film director–producer, pioneer of Algerian cinema
• Fatma Zohra Zamoum, film director

Illustrators

• Ali Dilem, editorial cartoonist
• Baya, painter
• Hocine Ziani, painter
• Le Hic, editorial cartoonist
• Rezki Zerarti, painter

Leaders and politicians

Ancient Algeria

Juba II

• Juba I, 1st-century BC, King of Numidia under Roman rule
• Juba II, 1st-century BC, King of Numidia under Roman rule
• Jugurtha, 2nd-century BC, King of Numidia
• Massinissa, 3rd-century BC, King of Numidia
• Tacfarinas, leader of a rebellion against the Romans
• Macrinus, Roman Emperor
• Pope Gelasius I, Pope from 1 March 492 to his death in 496
• Quintus Lollius Urbicus, Governor of Roman Britain

Early Islamic Algeria

• Abu Qurra, Proclaimed Caliph by the banu ifran Berber tribe, he is the founder of the indigenous Berber Muslim movement of Kharijite tendencies in North Africa and also founder of the Emirate of Tlemcen.
• Ibn Rustom, Of Persian descent he is the founder of the Rustamid dynasty centered around Tiaret in modern day Algeria.
• Buluggin ibn Ziri, 10th-century Emir; founder of the city of Algiers (Ed'Zayer in Algerian Arabic refers to his father Ziri ibn Menad, founder of the Zirid dynasty)
• Hammad ibn Buluggin, He is the founder and first Sultan of the Hammadid dynasty centered around Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad from 1008-1090 then Béjaïa from 1090-1152.
• Abd al-Mu'min, He is the first Caliph and founder of the Almohad dynasty.
• Yaghmurasen Ibn Zyan, Founder and first Sultan of the Zayyanid dynasty centered around Tlemcen in modern day Algeria.

Ottoman Algeria

• Hassan Agha, 16th-century Prince of Algiers; defeated Emperor Charles V in Algiers
• Baba Aruj, 16th-century corsair; leader of the Regency of Algiers
• Hayreddin Barbarossa, brother and successor of Aruj
• Rais Hamidou, Nicknamed 'Amir el Bihar' (leader of the seas) He was the admiral and last great leader of the Algerian Navy. He was of berber descent and is said to have captured more than 200 ships during his career.
• Zymen Danseker, A Dutch privateer during the Eighty Years' War, ended up becoming admiral of the Algerian fleet from 1600-1610. He is said to have introduced the round ship to the Algerians.
• Sulayman Reis, A Dutch privateer during the Eighty Years' War he later turned to the corsair activity swearing allegiance to the Sultan of Algiers and became an officer under Zymen Danseker.

Algeria under French colonization

• Emir Abdelkader, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Mohamed ben Zamoum, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Hadj Ahmed Bey, last Bey of Constantine; fought the French Army during two sieges in 1836 and 1837
• Cheikh Boumerdassi, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Omar ben Zamoum, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Messali Hadj, founder of the first North African and then Algerian Nationalist Parties
• Lalla Fatma N'Soumer, 19th-century female leader of the Kabyle resistance against the French
• Mohamed Seghir Boushaki, 20th-century leader of the Kabyle political resistance against the French
• Mohamed Deriche, 20th-century leader of the Kabyle political resistance against the French
• Messali Hadj, nationalist politician

Revolutionary War of Independence

• Ferhat Abbas, president of the provisional government of Algeria before independence, 1958–1961
• Mohamed Aïchaoui, journalist and independence war hero
• Colonel Amirouche, independence war hero
• Ali Ammar, also known as Ali la Pointe; independence war hero
• Krim Belkacem, independence war hero; vice president of the provisional government of Algeria
• Mostefa Benboulaid, Commander of Zone 1 during the independence war
• Hassiba Benbouali, female hero of the independence war
• Djamila Bouhired, female hero of the revolution
• Ahmed Mahsas, sociologist and independence war hero
• Larbi Ben M'hidi, Commander of Zone 5 during the independence war
• Abane Ramdane, political leader of the independence war; author of the "political over military" and "interior over exterior" principles
• Yacef Saadi, fighter in the independence war in the 1957 Battle of Algiers; actor in the 1966 war film by the same name after independence
• Lyès Deriche, political leader of the independence war; member of the Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action

Independent Algeria

Ahmed Ben Bella

• Hocine Ait Ahmed, political leader and head of the Socialist Forces Front opposition party (also a prominent independence war leader)
• Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria's first President, 1962–1965
• Chadli Bendjedid, President of Algeria, 1979–1992
• Rabah Bitat, vice president of Algeria's first government, president of parliament
• Mohamed Boudiaf, President of Algeria, 1992 (also a prominent Independence war leader)
• Houari Boumedienne, President of Algeria, 1965–1978
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria, 1999–2019
• Saïd Bouteflika, brother of Abdelaziz Bouteflika
• Lakhdar Brahimi, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Peace Envoy in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq
• Émilie Busquant, French feminist, anarcho-syndicalist and anti-colonial activist; best known for the role in the creation of the Algerian flag
• Abdallah Djaballah, founder and leader of Al-Islah party
• Louisa Hanoune, founder and female leader of the PT (Workers Party)
• Chakib Khelil, former Minister of Energy and Mines, former OPEC president
• Abassi Madani, founder and leader of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party
• Ahmed Mahsas, sociologist and founder and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (UFD) party (also a prominent Independence war leader)
• Redha Malek, founder and leader of the ANR party
• Mahfoud Nahnah, founder and former leader of the HMS party
• Ahmed Ouyahia, former Prime Minister
• Nouara Saadia, Minister for Family and Women
• Said Sadi, founder and leader of the RCD party
• Liamine Zeroual, President of Algeria, 1994–1999

Martyrs

• Mohamed Aïchaoui
• Colonel Amirouche
• Hassiba Ben Bouali
• Larbi Ben M'hidi
• Cheikh Bouamama
• Houari Boumédiène
• Mourad Didouche
• Malika Gaïd
• Zighoud Youcef
• Ahmed Zabana
• Moufdi Zakaria

Military and intelligence services

• José Aboulker, member of the anti-Nazi resistance; later a neurosurgeon and political figure in France
• Larbi Belkheir, (Aboulker) former general, Ambassador to Morocco
• Mohamed Lamari, former Chief of Staff of the People's National Army
• Smain Lamari, head of the Department of Counter-Espionage and Internal Security
• Mohamed Mediène ("Toufik"), head of the Department of Information and Security
• Khaled Nezzar, retired general

Musicians and singers

Berber

• Aïssa Djermouni, singer, poet
• Boualem Boukacem, singer, poet, musician
• Idir, singer, musician, composer
• Lounes Matoub, rebel singer of Kabyle music
• Lounis Ait Menguellet, singer, poet, musician
• Erika sawajiri, singer, algerian mother and japanese father
• Takfarinas, singer
• Marina Kaye, singer, French father and algerian mother

Classical

• El Hachemi Guerouabi, musician and reformer of the Chaabi classical style
• Tarik o'reagan, musician, irish father and algerian mother
• Dahmane El Harrachi, singer, composer and songwriter of Chaabi music
• El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, the Grand Master of Andalusian classical music and Chaabi (Algeria) music.
• Warda Al-Jazairia, singer
• Boudjemaâ El Ankis, singer, musician, a performer of chaâbi music
• Kamel Messaoudi, performer of chaâbi music
• Abdelkader Chaou, chaabi music interpreter
• Cheikh El Hasnaoui, singer
• Mustapha Toumi, songwriter
• Hadj Bouchiba, songwriter, lyricist, composer, poet and painter
• Reda Doumaz, singer
• Mustapha Skandrani, pianist, performer of chaâbi music
• Khelifa Belkacem, singer
• Mohamed Boumerdassi, singer
• Hsissen, singer
• Farid Ali, singer
• Hadj M'rizek, songwriter, lyricist, composer, poet and painter
• Hadj Menouar, singer

Contemporary

• DJ Snake, DJ, producer, songwriter; French-Algerian artist, worked with several famous artists.
• Mok Saib, Algerian singer; Pop, R&B, and Soul.

Jazz

• Franck Amsallem, jazz pianist, arranger, composer and singer
• Michel Benita, double bass player
• Mohamed Rouane, Casbah-jazz, mondol player
• Martial Solal, jazz pianist and composer

Musiques du monde

• Mohamed Abdennour (Ptit Moh) composer, arranger, instrumentalist, variety of musical forms, Algerian mandole player
• Djamel Laroussi, singer, composer, songwriter, arranger and guitar player

Pop

• Baaziz, singer
• Enrico Macias (Gaston Ghrenassia), singer
• Souad Massi, singer
• Line Monty (Eliane Sarfati), singer
• Rajae El Mouhandiz, Dutch/Moroccan/Algerian singer, recording artist, storyteller and poet
• Zaho, singer

Rai

• Messaoud Bellemou, raï musician, one of the most influential musicians of modern raï
• Safy Boutella, musician, composer
• Cheb Hasni, raï musician
• Cheb Mami, raï musician, also known as Mohamed Khelifati
• Faudel, raï musician
• Khaled, raï musician, also known as Khaled El Hadj Brahim
• Raïna Raï, band
• Cheikha Rimitti, rai musician
• Rachid Taha, raï–rock musician
• Cheb Tarik, raï musician

Rap

• Fianso, Franco-Algerian rapper.
• Kenza Farah, Algerian singer, songwriter, Rap, R&B and Hip-Hop; sings in French language.
• Lacrim, French-Algerian rapper, songwriter, has many hits in French game and American game.
• L'Algerino, singer and rapper.
• Lotfi Double Kanon, rapper, MC, producer, songwriter; songs engaging tracks against political system.
• PNL (Rap Duo), acronym of Peace N' Lovés, rap duo composed of two brothers: Ademo & N.O.S.
• Soolking, Algerian singer and rapper; he incorporates reggae, soul, hip hop and Algerian raï in his music.

Rock

• Rachid Taha, singer, musician

Religious figures

• Abdelkader El Djezairi, religious and military leader, Islamic scholar and Sufi
• Augustine of Hippo, Christian theologian
• Ahmad al-Alawi, Founder of the Sufi Alawiyya order
• Abdul Baqi Miftah, Sunni Muslim scholar and writer

Scholars and academics

Economists

• Jacques Attali, economist, writer, and senior civil servant

Historians

• Mohamed Harbi independence war historian
• Ibn Hammad (historian) medieval historian
• Ahmed Mohammed al-Maqqari Algerian historian born in the 16th century

Linguistics

• Abderrahmane Hadj-Salah, 20th century linguist and president of the Algerian Academy of the Arabic Language
• Saïd Cid Kaoui, 19th century lexicographer and interpreter focusing on Berber
• Judah ibn Kuraish, 9th century Algerian grammarian and lexicographer focusing on Hebrew
• Ibn Muti al-Zawawi, 13th century Algerian grammarian focusing on Arabic
• Mouloud Mammeri, 20th century anthropologist, linguist, poet, writer
• Mohamed Bencheneb, 19th century linguist and historian

Science

• Abdennebi Benaissa, neurosurgeon
• Belgacem Haba, Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, two master’s degrees in applied physics and materials science
• Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, physicist, Nobel prize (1997)
• Elias Zerhouni, radiologist and medical researcher
• Henri Atlan, biophysicist and philosopher
• Maamar Bettayeb, control theorist and systems scientist
• Mohamed Belhocine, internal medicine and epidemiology researcher
• Mustapha Ishak Boushaki, cosmologist and relativity researcher
• Noureddine Melikechi, Atomic, molecular, and optical physicist researcher
• Rachid Deriche, computational imaging researcher

Philosophy

Claude Cohen-Tannoudji

• Mohamed Arkoun, author, philosopher, historian
• Malek Bennabi, social and religious philosopher
• Jacques Derrida, deconstructionist philosopher
• Frantz Fanon, psychologist

Sports

Association football

Rabah Madjer

• Adlene Guedioura, footballer & African champion
• Sarah Bouhaddi, football goalkeeper
• William Ayache, footballer
• Christian Baudry (born 1955), footballer
• Lakhdar Belloumi, footballer; world cup participation in 1982, 1986
• Djamel Belmadi, coach, former footballer; winner of african cup with Algeria, winner of Arab Gulf cup with Saudi Arabia, ranked among best coaches in the world, undefeated successive games 31 games with Algerian national team, has many personal awards & collective as a player.
• Zahir Belounis, footballer
• Abdelaziz Ben Tifour, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Karim Benzema, French national footballer; parents are Algerian
• Said Brahimi, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Mustapha Dahleb, former footballer, Algerian national player; played in PSG and has a club record of the 4th highest goalscorer
• Ali Fergani, footballer and trainer
• Rabah Gamouh, international footballer; finished twice as the top scorer of the Algerian Champion at National with 25 goals in 1970/71 and 24 goals in 1971/72
• Abdelhamid Kermali, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Mahieddine Khalef, footballer and trainer
• Mustapha Khedali), footballer
• Rabah Madjer, footballer; played in two World Cup games with Algeria, European champion with Porto, etc.
• Riyad Mahrez, footballer; played in one world cup and two african cups, winner of african cup with national team, winner of Premier League cups, winner of best footballer in England, many personal & collective awards.
• Rachid Mekhloufi, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Said Belmokhtar, Kazakhstani-born Ukrainian footballer of Algerian descent
• Samir Nasri, French national footballer; parents are Algerian
• Yahia Ouahabi, retired player for JS Kabylie
• Islam Slimani, Algerian national footballer; his goal against Russia 1-1 (World Cup 2014) put Algeria into the history of World Cup by arriving to the 2nd tour for the first time ever
• Mohamed Yahi, footballer for JS Kabylie and NA Hussein Dey
• Karim Ziani, Algerian national footballer; world cup participation in 2010
• Zinedine Zidane, French national footballer; parents are Algerian

Athletics

• Hassiba Boulmerka, athlete; 1500 m world and Olympic champion
• Taoufik Makhloufi, athlete; 1500 m Olympic champion
• Nouria Mérah-Benida, athlete; 1500 m Olympic champion
• Noureddine Morceli, athlete; 1500 m world and Olympic champion
• Artur Partyka, Polish high jumper; father is Algerian

Boxing

Abdelhafid Benchabla

• Abdelhafid Benchabla, boxer
• Amine Boushaki, judoka
• Robert Cohen, world-champion bantamweight boxer
• Alphonse Halimi ("la Petite Terreur"), world-champion bantamweight boxer
• Myriam Lamare, boxer, French father and algerian mother
• Mohamed Missouri, boxer

Fencing

• Tahar Hamou, foil fencer
• Anissa Khelfaoui, foil fencer
• Armand Mouyal (1925–1988), French world champion épée fencer
• Ferial Salhi, foil fencer

Ice hockey

• Josef Boumedienne, professional ice hockey player; Algerian and Finnish descent
• Yassine Fahas, ice hockey player; one of the original members of the Algerian national ice hockey team
• Karim Kerbouche, Algerian ice hockey player; founder of the Algerian national ice hockey team
• Harond Litim, ice hockey player; one of the original members of the Algerian national ice hockey team

Judo

• Hassane Azzoun, Algerian judoka
• Sami Belgroun, Algerian judoka
• Abderahmane Benamadi, Algerian judoka
• Mounir Benamadi, Algerian judoka
• Amar Benikhlef, Algerian judoka
• Mohamed Bouaichaoui, Algerian judoka
• Faycal Bousbiat, Algerian judoka
• Amine Boushaki, Algerian judoka
• Lyès Bouyacoub, Algerian judoka
• Khaled Meddah, Algerian judoka
• Amar Meridja, Algerian judoka
• Omar Rebahi, Algerian judoka
• Mohamed-Amine Tayeb, Algerian judoka
• Nourredine Yagoubi, Algerian judoka
• Houd Zourdani, Algerian judoka

Other sports

• Ali Boulala, professional skateboarder; Algerian and Swedish descent
• Ines Ibbou, tennis player
• Kahina Bounab, volleyball player
• Alfred Nakache, Olympian world champion swimmer and water polo player

Terrorists

• Djamel Beghal, French Algerian convicted of terrorism
• Abdul Nacer Benbrika, found guilty of being the leader of a terrorist organisation
• Mokhtar Belmokhtar, sentenced to death for murder and terrorism
• Slimane Khalfaoui, French-Algerian terrorist convicted of the Strasbourg cathedral bombing plot
• Ahmed Ressam, Algerian al-Qaeda member convicted of attempting to bomb the Los Angeles International Airport on New Year's Eve 1999
• Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, leader of the Algerian Islamic militant group Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb

See also

• List of people by nationality