List of notable Algerians

Notable Algerians include:

Artists

See also: List of Algerian artists and List of Algerian women artists

Actors

• Hadj Abderrahmane, actor and comedian
• Isabelle Adjani, French actress
• 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
• Ramzy Bedia, French-Algerian actor
• Leïla Bekhti, French-Algerian actress
• Alice Belaïdi, French-Algerian actress
• Catherine Belkhodja, French-Algerian actress
• 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, actress, model and dancer
• Rachida Brakni, French actress
• Patrick Bruel, singer, actor, and professional poker player
• Alain Chabat, actor and director
• Mohamed Chouikh, filmmaker
• Mohamed Fellag, actor and comedian
• Eva Green, actress and model
• Khaled Habib, singer-songwriter, composer, actor, film director
• Roger Hanin, film actor and director
• Marlène Jobert, actress, singer and author
• Reda Kateb, actor
• Sid Ali Kouiret, actor
• Rachid Ksentini, actor and comedian
• Karim Leklou, actor
• Maïwenn, actress, film director and producer
• Tahar Rahim, actor
• Rouiched, comedy actor
• Lyes Salem, actor and film director
• Hadj Smaine Mohamed Seghir, actor, director, and man of stage
• Samy Seghir, French-Algerian actor
• Smaïn, actor and humorist
• Patrick Timsit, comedian, writer, and film director
• Larbi Zekkal, actor and comedian

Directors and filmmakers

• Merzak Allouache, film director
• Abdelkader Alloula, theatre producer
• Jean-Luc Azoulay, television producer
• Yamina Benguigui, filmmaker
• Malek Bensmaïl, film director
• 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

Fashion (designers, models)

• Loli Bahia, model
• Farida Khelfa, former model and actress

Illustrators

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

New media

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

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
• Al-Akhdari (1512–1575), Arab-Algerian poet, Alim, astronomer, jurist and logician of Sherifian descent
• Abdelkader Alloula (1939–1994), playwright
• Malek Alloula (1937–2015), 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
• 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
• Malek Bennabi (1905–1973), writer and philosopher
• Rachid Boudjedra (born 1941), poet, novelist, playwright and critic
• Albert Camus (1913–1960), journalist, author, philosopher
• Mohamed Cherak, journalist
• Hélène Cixous, feminist writer
• Mohammed Dib (1920–2003), 20th-century writer
• Leila Djabali (born 1933)
• Tahar Djaout (1954–1993), poet, journalist, critic
• Assia Djebar (1936–2015), 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
• Latifa Ben Mansour (born 1950), writer, psychoanalyst, and linguist
• Fodil Mezali (born 1959), journalist and writer
• Hocine Mezali (born 1938), journalist and writer
• Rachid Mimouni (1945–1995), writer, poet
• Ahlam Mostaghanemi, writer
• Sarah Rivens, writer
• Othmane Senadjki (1959–2010), journalist
• Ahmed Ben Triki (1650-1750), Algerian poet from Tlemcen
• Kateb Yacine (1929–1989), 20th-century writer
• Moufdi Zakaria (1908–1977), lyricist of the Algerian national anthem "Kassaman"

Criminals

• Djamel Beghal, French Algerian convicted of terrorism
• Mokhtar Belmokhtar, sentenced to death for murder and terrorism
• Abdul Nacer Benbrika, found guilty of being the leader of a terrorist organisation
• Hamza Bendelladj, cyber-criminal also known as the "Smiling Hacker"
• Rédoine Faïd, French-Algerian bank robber and jailbreaker
• 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

Journalists

• Abdessami' Abdelhaï, journalist

Leaders and politicians

Ancient Algeria

Juba II

• Juba I, 1st century BC, king of Numidia under Roman rule
• Saburra, Numidian general
• Juba II, 1st century BC, king of Numidia under Roman rule
• Naravas, Numidian chief
• Jugurtha, 2nd century BC, king of Numidia
• Zelalsen, king of the Massylii
• Ozalces, king of the Massylii
• Capussa, king of the Massylii tribe and brother to King Gaia
• Gala, king of the Massylii tribe
• Lacumazes, king of the Massylii tribe
• Syphax, king of the Massylii tribe
• Vermina, son of Sypbax and king of the Masaesyli tribe
• Archobarzane, last king of the Masaesylians
• Massinissa, 3rd century BC, king of Numidia
• Micipsa, king of Numidia
• Gulussa, king of Numidia along with his two brothers
• Mastanabal, king of Numidia
• Adherbal, king of Numidia
• Hiempsal I, king of Numidia
• Gauda, Jugurtha's brother; a king of Numidia
• Iarbas, Gaetulian king
• Hiarbas, king, usurped the throne of Numidia
• Hiempsal II, son of Gauda and king of Numidia
• Masteabar, king of western Numidia
• Massinissa II, king of western Numidia
• Arabio, last independent king of Numidia
• Cleopatra Selene II, wife of juba II
• Ptolemy of Mauretania, last king of Mauretania
• Tacfarinas, leader of a rebellion against the Romans
• Firmus, Numidian prince and Roman usurper
• Gildo, Roman Berber general
• Macrinus, Roman emperor
• Pope Gelasius I, pope from 1 March 492 to his death in 496
• Quintus Lollius Urbicus, governor of Roman Britain
• Masuna, first recorded king of the Mauro-Roman Kingdom
• Mastigas, Masuna's successor
• John, Berber military leader
• Garmul, last recorded king of the Mauro Roman kingdom
• Masties, founder and first king of the Kingdom of the Aurès
• Iaudas, Berber leader and king of the Aurès
• Kusaila, last king of Altava who led a resistance against Islam
• Dihya, uncontested ruler of the whole Maghreb
• Tabat, Dihya's father

Early Islamic Algeria

• Abu Qurra, proclaimed caliph by the banu ifran Berber tribe; founder of the indigenous Berber Muslim movement of Kharijite tendencies in North Africa; founder of the Emirate of Tlemcen
• Sulayman ibn Abd-Allah, known as "Sulayman I of Tlemcen"; emir of Tlemcen (786 / 7–813)
• Abd al-Rahman ibn Rustam, of Persian descent, founder of the Rustamid dynasty centered around Tiaret in modern-day Algeria
• Buluggin ibn Ziri, 10th-century emir; founder of the city of Algiers (Dzayer in Algerian Arabic refers to his father Ziri ibn Manad, founder of the Zirid dynasty)
• Hammad ibn Buluggin, founder and first Sultan of the Hammadid dynasty centered around Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad from 1008 to 1090, then Béjaïa from 1090 to 1152
• Abd al-Mu'min, 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
• Zymen Danseker, Dutch privateer during the Eighty Years' War, became admiral of the Algerian fleet from 1600 to 1610; said to have introduced the round ship to the Algerians
• Rais Hamidou, nicknamed 'Amir el Bihar' (leader of the seas), admiral and last great leader of the Algerian Navy, of Berber descent
• Sulayman Reis, Dutch privateer during the Eighty Years' War; 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
• 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
• 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, co-founder of "l'Etoile Nord-Africaine", the first Algerian nationalist party
• Belkacem Radjef, co-founder of ENA with Messali Hadj and Amar Imache
• Lalla Fatma N'Soumer, 19th-century female leader of the Kabyle resistance against the French
• Mohamed ben Zamoum, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation
• Omar ben Zamoum, 19th-century leader of the resistance against French colonisation

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
• Krim Belkacem, independence war hero; vice president of the provisional government of Algeria
• Hassiba Benbouali, female hero of the independence war
• Mostefa Benboulaid, Commander of Zone 1 during the independence war
• Djamila Bouhired, female hero of the revolution
• Yahia Boushaki, political and military leader of the independence war
• Lyès Deriche, political leader of the independence war; member of the Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action
• Ali La Pointe, also known as Ali Ammar; independence war hero
• Ahmed Mahsas, sociologist and independence war hero
• Larbi Ben M'hidi, commander of Zone 5 during the independence war
• Mohamed Rahmoune, political and military leader of 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

Independent Algeria

Ahmed Ben Bella

• Chaâbane Aït Abderrahim, Wali of M'Sila, Constantine, and Algiers provinces
• Hocine Ait Ahmed, political leader and head of the Socialist Forces Front opposition party (also a prominent independence war leader)
• Mohamed Bahi (born 1983/1984), American-Algerian former Chief Liaison of New York City Mayor Eric Adams to the Muslim community
• Ahmed Ben Bella, Algeria's first president, 1962–1965
• Mourad Benachenou, minister for the restructure of industry, 1995
• Chadli Bendjedid, president of Algeria, 1979–1992
• Maamar Benguerba, minister for labour and social affairs in the 1992 government
• 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
• Farida Haddouche, politician, party secretary general
• Louisa Hanoune, founder and female leader of the PT (Workers Party)
• Abelkader Khamri, former minister for youth and sport, 1992
• 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
• Rabea Mechernane, minister of national solidarity and family in the 1990s
• 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
• Farouk Tebbal, minister for the environment in the 1992 government
• 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
• Ali Ammar

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
• Raïs Hamidou, Algerian corsair
• 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

Main article: List of Algerian musicians

Berber

• Boualem Boukacem, singer, poet, musician
• Aïssa Djermouni, singer, poet
• 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

Classical

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

Contemporary

• DJ Snake, DJ, producer, songwriter; French-Algerian artist, worked with several famous artists
• Marina Kaye, singer, French father and Algerian mother
• Lolo Zouaï, American singer, born to a French mother and an Algerian father

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
• Faudel, raï musician
• Cheb Hasni, raï musician
• Khaled, raï musician, also known as Khaled El Hadj Brahim
• Cheb Mami, raï musician, also known as Mohamed Khelifati
• Raïna Raï, band
• Cheikha Rimitti, rai musician
• Rachid Taha, raï–rock musician
• Cheb Tarik, raï musician

Rap

• Boef, Algerian rapper; one of the Netherlands' most successful rappers
• Didine Canon 16
• Double Kanon, rapper, MC, producer, songwriter; songs engaging tracks against political system
• Kenza Farah, Algerian singer-songwriter, rap, R&B and hip-hop; sings in French
• Fianso, Franco-Algerian rapper
• Lacrim, French-Algerian rapper, songwriter, has many hits in French game and American game
• L'Algerino, singer and rapper
• PNL, acronym of Peace N' Lovés, rap duo composed of two brothers: Ademo & N.O.S.
• Soolking, Algerian singer and rapper; incorporates reggae, soul, hip hop and Algerian raï in his music
• Soso Maness, rapper

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
• Sidi M'hamed Bou Qobrine, founder of the Rahmaniyya Sufi order
• Ahmad al-Tijani, founder of the Tijaniyyah Sufi order
• Hud ibn Muhakkam al-Hawwari, Ibadi Quran exegete
• Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi, Arab scholar and imam
• Abu Madyan, influential mystic and Sufi master
• Sidi El Houari, imam and a saint of Oran
• Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi, founder of the Senussi Order

Scholars and academics

Historians

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

Linguistics

• Mohamed Bencheneb, 19th-century linguist and historian
• 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
• Mouloud Mammeri, 20th-century anthropologist, linguist, poet, writer
• Ibn Muti al-Zawawi, 13th-century Algerian grammarian focusing on Arabic

Science

• Maamar Bettayeb, control theorist and systems scientist
• Mohamed Belhocine, internal medicine and epidemiology researcher
• Mustapha Ishak Boushaki, cosmologist and relativity researcher
• Rachid Deriche, computational imaging researcher
• Noureddine Melikechi, atomic, molecular, and optical physicist researcher
• Elias Zerhouni, radiologist and medical researcher

Philosophy

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

Sports

Association football

Rabah Madjer

• Lakhdar Belloumi, footballer; World Cup participation in 1982, 1986
• Djamel Belmadi, coach, former footballer
• Said Belmokhtar, Kazakhstani-born Ukrainian footballer of Algerian descent
• Zahir Belounis, footballer
• Saïd Benrahma, footballer
• Said Brahimi, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Ali Fergani, footballer and trainer
• Rabah Gamouh, international footballer
• Adlene Guedioura, footballer and African champion
• 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
• Riyad Mahrez, footballer; played in one World Cup
• Raïs M'Bolhi, Algerian goalkeeper
• Rachid Mekhloufi, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Yahia Ouahabi, retired player for JS Kabylie
• Islam Slimani, Algerian national footballer; (World Cup 2014)
• Abdelaziz Ben Tifour, footballer; one of the founders of the Algerian football team
• Mohamed Yahi, footballer for JS Kabylie and NA Hussein Dey
• Karim Ziani, Algerian national footballer; World Cup participation in 2010

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, boxer
• Amine Boushaki, judoka
• Robert Cohen, world-champion bantamweight boxer
• Lahouari Godih
• 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

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
• Kahina Bounab, volleyball player
• Ines Ibbou, tennis player
• Salaheddine Mokdad Saidi, volleyball player

See also

• List of people by nationality