The Metamorphoses of a North African City: Colonisation and Decolonisation of Médéa (1842–1962)

Abstract

Médéa, (Algeria) was (re)founded by the Zirid governor Bologhin Ibn Ziri on an ancient fortress in the 10th century. In 1842, it was conquered by the French army and underwent major modifications for military purposes and enlarged to accommodate the successive waves of European settlers, during the 132 years of occupation. In 1962, the city was reclaimed by the local population from the Europeans who had fled the country, and underwent a new era of changes and readaptation. The article retraces the spatial changes during the three periods of its urban history and provides physical evidence in the light of post-colonialism theory.