Another artist of Algerian culture bows out. This is the actor, playwright
and director Djamel Hamouda, died yesterday morning in Annaba, at the age of 70, continued
to a long illness.
The late Djamel Hamouda was an artist with an imposing posture, innate charisma, unparalleled humility and unique stage performance. On stage, his genius burned the stage while in the cinema, he burst the screen, to the delight of his many admirers. Djamel Hamouda was born on December 17, 1954 in Skikda.
The man was an accomplished artist: He was both a theater actor, a film actor, a writer, a playwright, a screenwriter and a director. He worked a lot for Television where he played major roles in several feature films. As a reminder, the deceased graduated from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts and Dance in 1972.
During the period between 1990 and 19995, he worked as a correspondent for the weekly Révolution Africaine. He was subsequently appointed director of the Mohamed Boudiaf Palace of Culture and Arts in Annaba from 1995 to 2006. Along the way, he had to occupy numerous high positions including, among others, head of the artistic department and technical advisor at the Azzeddine Medjoubi Regional Theater in 2006, technical advisor at the same theater as well as drama teacher at the French Culture Center, in 2010.
This artist with incomparable and irreplaceable talent in the Algerian cultural universe has to his credit a career that is both dense and rich. Proof of this is: He distinguished himself brilliantly in around 16 plays and 38 TV and cinema productions, between soap operas and films. The late artist is also the author of 22 plays. His first theatrical play “El Firane” was written and presented at the Annaba Regional Theater in 1981.
Subsequently, he signed other theatrical plays including, among others, “Entik ya lalouled” in 1982, “Dik el-khater” in 1985, “Illi zaraa errih” in 1986, “Kahoua ouelatey” in 1987, “Djanoub” in 1990, “Djamila” in 2000, “Jayeh Kebih oua Medjnoun” in 2006 and “Ma yebka fel oued ghir hdjarou” in 2016. He also signed a one-man show which, remember, had accumulated more than 800 successful performances. The disappearance of Djamel Hamouda caused great emotion among his loved ones, his artistic family and his public. Vibrant testimonies have flooded the Web. “Algerian cinema, we read, today loses one of its key figures with the departure of Djamel Hamouda.
An exceptional actor and director, he was able to captivate the public with his authenticity, his passion and his artistic commitment. After a long fight against illness, he left us, leaving an immense void and a precious legacy. Djamel Hamouda left his mark on the screen, and his mark will remain vivid in the memories.
Through his works, his spirit will continue to shine, inspiring generations to come. May Djamel Hamouda rest in peace, and may his memory remain eternal in the hearts of those he touched.” All are unanimous in affirming that the late Djamel Hamouda passed away without making any noise, leaving an important legacy of work and indelible memories.
