ALBAWABA - Depending on where you live, you may or may not have seen Google recently celebrate the legacy of Algerian writer and singer, Taos Amrouche, on what would have been her 111th birthday by featuring her on its homepage through a special Google Doodle.
The search engine showed a picture of Taos Amrouche in traditional Algerian Amazigh attire, recognizing her significant contributions to literature as one of the first Maghreb women to publish a novel in the 1940s.
Born Marie-Louise Taous Amroush on the fourth of March of 1913 in Tunisia during the French colonial era in Algeria, she later settled in France and wrote in the French language.
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Amrouche 's literary journey began with her autobiographical novel "Black Hyacinth" in 1947, which was groundbreaking as the first work of its kind by a Maghreb writer in France. She continued to write stories and novels that explored themes of immigration and Amazigh culture, alongside her groundbreaking efforts in traditional Berber singing.
Aside from her writing, Amrouche was also known for her singing talents and was the first woman to adapt traditional Berber poetic singing into an opera. Her dedication to preserving and promoting Berber's oral heritage led her to record albums like "Berber Songs from the Kabylie Region," which gained significant popularity.
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Being an Algerian writer and singer easily made her stand out, which also made it easier for her to leave her mark on history.
Sadly, Amrouche battled cancer and passed away on April 2, 1976, in France. Due to her literary and artistic impact, the House of Culture in the Bejaia Governorate was named after her in recognition of her great contributions to the Algerian culture.
