On the evening of Friday, May 1st, 2026, El Mahatta creative hub in Algiers hosted a cultural and intellectual gathering combining a film screening with an open discussion, organized through a collaboration between Dawar El Hip Hop and El Moutanakil.
The event took place in connection with both International Workers’ Day and the remembrance of the Algerian people’s demonstrations against French colonialism on May 1st, 1945. The evening was notably marked by the screening of the documentary The Black Panthers of Algeria, directed by Mohamed El Amine Ben Loulou — a 27-minute film that continues its journey through festivals in Algeria and internationally.
The film has received several distinctions, including the award for Second Best Director at the 2026 Syphax Documentary Film Days, as well as the Audience Award for Best Short Film at the Algiers International Film Festival in December 2025. It had previously won the award for Best Foreign Film at the Kwanzaa Film Festival in the United States.
American Band Algiers Opens the Evening with a Video Message The event began with the screening of a video message from Ryan Mahan, member of the American band Algiers, in which he spoke about the group’s deep connection to Algeria and the choice of their name, inspired by the film The Battle of Algiers. He also highlighted Algeria’s historical role during the 1960s, describing it as a true “Mecca for revolutionaries” in the face of colonial movements.
He also reflected on the band’s 2019 visit to Algeria, their meeting with freedom fighter Yacef Saâdi, and their wish to one day perform in concert in Algeria. Although the concert planned at the time could not take place, the visit remained a significant human and cultural experience for the group, made possible through the involvement of director Mohamed El Amine Ben Loulou, who played a key role in building this bridge between the band and Algeria.
Algeria, Africa and Hip Hop: Interwoven Paths of Influence
The evening forms part of an ongoing reflection developed over several years by Monst-R (Soheyb Kehal) and Mohamed El Amine Ben Loulou. It explores the relationship between Algeria and Hip Hop culture through a central question: has Algeria truly left its mark on Hip Hop culture through local reinterpretation and contribution, or does it remain within a dynamic of consumption and reproduction? This perspective is reflected in the two documentaries created by the speakers: The Black Panthers of Algeria by Ben Loulou and The Immortal Spirit of Hip Hop in
Algeria by Monst-R, both proposing a reading rooted in early forms of cultural, artistic and historical exchange.
The 1969 Pan-African Cultural Festival: A Foundational Moment
The discussions particularly highlighted the 1969 Pan-African Festival as a pivotal historical moment that brought together the African continent and its diaspora, opening a space where liberation movements and artistic expressions could meet — where political struggle and cultural creation advanced together toward an African renaissance.
The conversation also addressed the legacy of Frantz Fanon, whose thought — shaped and put into practice in Algeria — helped establish an intellectual foundation upon which various forms of engaged artistic expression converged, preparing the ground for the emergence of Hip Hop culture.
Material Archives at the Heart of Cultural Memory
The event also featured an exhibition of vinyl records and cassette tapes connected to the evening’s themes, including works by the band Algiers alongside historical Algerian recordings.
Among them was the very first Algerian vinyl record, pressed in Yugoslavia by the Jugoton label, reflecting cultural and militant relationships rooted in a historical continuity extending from the revolutionary era to the Non-Aligned Movement. These materials represent fragments of memory that director Mohamed El Amine Ben Loulou explores throughout his work, tracing connections between Algerian, African and international cultural history.
From Screening to Discussion
Following the screening, an open discussion took place in the presence of the director, who spoke about the making of the film, its characters, and the journey from concept to realization.
The discussion, moderated by Monst-R, saw strong interaction with the audience and focused on the historical relationships linking the Algerian Revolution, international liberation movements, the Black Panther Party and the 1969 Pan-African Festival, as well as their influence on Hip Hop culture. Over time, these interactions helped weave intellectual and spiritual connections between cultures.
A Rich Exchange with the Audience
The forty-minute discussion brought together a diverse audience composed of cinema enthusiasts, music lovers and people passionate about history. The event continues a series of previous gatherings organized at El Mahatta around Hip Hop culture, notably including the launch of the Algerian Rap Digital Archives platform.
From Reflection to Action on the Ground
These independent initiatives led by young cultural actors demonstrate their concrete ability to contribute to the valorization of local heritage by connecting individual memory with collective Algerian and African memory, transforming history into a living space for creation and dialogue.
This dynamic forms part of a broader series of upcoming initiatives, among which the documentary The Immortal Spirit of Hip Hop in Algeria stands as one of the main driving forces, within an effort to reinterpret Hip Hop history on both local and African scales.
In this continuity, El Mahatta continues to progressively affirm its role as a space dedicated to urban cultures and contemporary artistic expression. The event was followed by a three-day program featuring an exhibition by rapper Zaḥḥam, organized around the promotion of his latest album and the release of its physical edition.
Written by: Monst-R (Soheyb Kehal) & Mohamed Ben Loulou
