Ferhat Imazighen Imula, also known as Ferhat Mehenni ( Kabyle: Ferḥat Mehenni or Ferḥat Imazighen Imula, born March 5, 1951), is a an Algerian Kabyle

political activist A political movement is a collective attempt by a group of people to change government policy or social values. Political movements are usually in opposition to an element of the status quo, and are often associated with a certain ideology. Some t ...

, singer, and founder and first President of the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia. He has been President of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (formerly known as the MAK Movement) since June 1, 2010. In 2012, Mehenni was subjected to controversy after visiting Israel, where he voiced his support and

solidarity ''Solidarity'' is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes. It is based on class collaboration.''Merriam Webster'', http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictio ...

for Israel, comparing it to Kabylia.

Career and Politics

Early Life

Mehenni was born on March 5, 1951, in Illoula Oumalou,

Tizi Ouzou Province Tizi Ouzou ( Kabyle: Tawilayt n Tizi Wezzu, ar, ولاية تيزي وزو) is a province (''wilayah'') of Algeria in the Kabylia region. Its capital is Tizi Ouzou. History In 1984, Boumerdès Province was carved out of its territory. Adminis ...

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

. He graduated from the

University of Algiers The University of Algiers (Arabic language, Arabic:جامعة الجزائر – بن يوسف بن خـدة ), commonly called the Algiers 1 University, is a public university, public research university located in Algiers, Algeria. It is the ...

with a degree in

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

. Mehenni won first prize in the Algiers Modern Music Festival in 1973. Soon after, he began his career as a

protest singer A protest song is a song that is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of ''topical'' songs (or songs connected to current events). It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre. Among social mov ...

and political activist.

Activism

Due to his hostility towards the

Algerian government Politics of Algeria takes place in a framework of a constitutional semi-presidential republic, whereby the President of Algeria is head of state while the Prime Minister of Algeria is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the gov ...

and

extremists Extremism is "the quality or state of being extreme" or "the advocacy of extreme measures or views". The term is primarily used in a political or religious sense to refer to an ideology that is considered (by the speaker or by some implied share ...

, Mehenni was arrested 13 times, imprisoned for 3 years, and tortured repeatedly by government forces. In response to the Black Spring massacre in Kabylia, Mehenni established the Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylia. The MAK was later reformed into the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia. Mehenni's eldest son, Améziane Mehenni, was assassinated in 2004.

Bibliography

Mehenni is the author of ''Algérie: La Question Kabyle,'' published in 2004, in which he explains his ideas about

Kabyle nationalism The Kabyle people ( kab, Izwawen or ''Leqbayel'' or ''Iqbayliyen'', ) are a Berbers, Berber ethnic group indigenous to Kabylia in the north of Algeria, spread across the Atlas Mountains, east of Algiers. They represent the largest Berber-speakin ...

Discography

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehenni, Ferhat 1951 births Living people University of Algiers alumni Berber musicians Algerian Berber politicians Berber activists Kabyle independence activists 21st-century Algerian people English-language singers from Algeria