I Was a French Muslim: Memories of an Algerian Freedom Fighter

by Mokhtar Mokhtefi, Elaine Mokhtefi (Translator)

GQ : Best of Modern Middle Eastern Literature 

This engaging memoir provides a vivid account of a childhood under French colonization and a life dedicated to fighting for the freedom and dignity of the Algerian people.

The son of a butcher and the youngest of six siblings, Mokhtar Mokhtefi was born in 1935 and grew up in a village de colonisation roughly one hundred kilometers south of the capital of Algiers. Thanks to the efforts of a supportive teacher, he became the only child in the family to progress to high school, attending a French lycée that deepened his belief in the need for independence. In 1957, at age twenty-two, he joined the National Liberation Army (ALN), the armed wing of the National Liberation Front (FLN), which had been waging war against France since 1954. After completing rigorous training in radio transmissions at a military base in Morocco, he went on to become an officer in the infamous Ministère de l’Armement et des Liaisons Générales (MALG), the precursor of post-independence Algeria’s Military Security (SM). 

Mokhtefi’s powerful memoir bears witness to the extraordinary men and women who fought for Algerian independence against a colonial regime that viewed non-Europeans as fundamentally inferior, designating them not as French citizens, but as “French Muslims.” He presents a nuanced, intelligent, and deeply personal perspective on Algeria’s transition to independent statehood, with all its inherent opportunities and pitfalls.

Genres: Memoir, Algeria, Nonfiction, History, Biography

413 pages, Hardcover

First published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Julian Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moving memoir of a young man's upbringing in French Algeria in the 1940s and 50s, where he was educated as one of the few Algerian students at a nearly all-white high school, and how his experiences of life under colonialism led him to join the FLN rebel group as a radio operator. Mokhtefi candidly tells the story of his experiences before and during the War of Independence, from the injustices he witnessed to the privations of rebel life. He in particular takes the shine off of his time in the FLN, relating harrowing experiences involving both fleeing the French military and the cruel and authoritarian orders of his superiors. The memoir features both paths crossed with notable figures and events of the time—brief encounters with Frantz Fanon and with Nasser—as well as countless ordinary experiences of day to day life. Although the whirl of names and characters introduced is a bit too much to follow and the pace is a little slow at times, I Was a French Muslim vividly sheds light on life and resistance under colonial rule througg a candid journey through one man's life in extraordinary times.

[A Bushra · Rating 4 out of 5]

DNF ~50%

A rather good book. His life (growing up in French-Algeria) and his educational/cultural development were extremely interesting. He writes with great intelligence and thoughtfulness about french ideals, literature, and the degree of assimilation he had to undergo to reap the fruits of french education and culture.

The first part of the book captivated me, especially the nuanced exploration of his early years. Despite myself, I lost interest after he travelled to Morocco to join the armed wing of the Front de Liberation Nationale. From what I gather from reviews/synopses, the second part of the book where he joined the ranks of the FLN was just as eventful, but I just couldn't get into it (I resigned to this fact after months of wanting to resume). Perhaps it had to do with the realities of war (whether guerilla or conventional) being universally similar - and somewhat grim.

That said, this book remains a thought-provoking read. It offers a good perspectives on colonial history, identity, and the human cost of political struggle.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book by an Algerian (recently deceased) who grew up in a small village, was educated in French schools (having been picked out by a teacher because of his intelligence) and as a young man fought in the Algerian War for Independence. He is quite thorough in his analysis of why the Algerians needed independence from France (for example, his identity card recorded him not as Algerian but as "french Muslim). There is a lot of detail here, more than I with only a moderate interest in Algeria and Northern Africa needed - but it's an excellent introduction to the history between France and it's Muslim citizens that is still unfolding.

[Thylacinemaxreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully and skillfully translated, depth and variety of plot I wasn’t expecting. Are there a whole lot of dudes to keep track of? Yes. But Mokhtar has a skillful way of keeping his associates distinct yet not overwhelming. France ain’t shit.

[Denise Faner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Beautiful insight on the experience of an Alergian muslim during the fight for independence. I did not expect to like it due to it being assigned to me for a middle eastern college course, however this memoir has really stuck with me and I reccomend it to everyone

[vernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very in-depth portrayal of what life was like for fighters in the Algerian National Liberation Army. I definitely recommend it, although it was long.

[Yasmine K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Liz Lem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book and I am giving it 3 stars because I really liked the premise. I suppose that if I had an emotional connection that I would have found it more impactful.

[Just Chad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to give this book a higher rating, but I simply can’t. As I set out reading this book I had a different idea of what I was going to get based on the title and the inside fold jacket synopsis (of course the back was plastered with snippet reviews from other authors and various vague publications extolling the great virtues and insight of the book’s author. Either these reviewers read a different book entirely or were on some mind altering drugs, because the book wasn’t as good as they claimed). By the way of the title I Was a French Muslim: Memories of an Algerian Freedom Fighter my interest was piqued. I imagined I was going along on a fantastic adventure with a soldier. I’d be behind the scenes of the rebellious men who helped to overthrow French rule in Algeria from 1954 to 1962. I imagined gun battles, daring raids, and sabotage. Nope, none of that. Instead you get nearly 250+ pages of Mokhtar’s upbringing through early childhood days in his home village, then the days at an elite French boarding school that he managed to get into by the way of his intellect and a bit of luck from the local village principal. We get a glimpse into his struggle with his identity, is he French? Is he Muslim? Is he Algerian? Is he Algerian-French, is he French-Algerian? All good questions and honestly that bit was interesting to read about, how does one deal with your identity when you live in an occupied country where you speak the language of the occupier better than your native language, you know their literature better, their history better, and their culture better, all the while these very occupiers detest you and will never see you as one of them despite your deep connection to everything they are about. Very strange to think about. Assimilation or Stockholm syndrome? Who knows. It also really highlights how hypocritical the French Colonials were: preach Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, yet brutally repress all three of those qualities and beliefs in all their colonies, including Algeria. Anyways after you cleave through these 250+ pages you start wondering when the hell are we getting into the liberation bit and the action? Well don’t worry by the start of page 300 we’re finally in the National Liberation Front and getting some training. BUT WAIT Mokhtar has perhaps the DULLEST role in the whole conflict. I knew he was in radios and communications based on the book jacket, but my god I didn’t realize how fantastically boring his role would be. You don’t see any actual war. There aren’t any fantastic or heroic war stories in the book. You interact with the French-Algerian conflict in what feels like a second hand fashion. You’re always one step removed in the book. You only really hear about the conflicts, the tension, and some moments of danger, not much is first hand. It leaves you sitting in a lukewarm bath instead of a hot jacuzzi. It was kinda like you went to a talk at a bookstore held by some of the veterans, but the bookstore janitor interrupted and talked the whole time. Honestly, it should have been titled: I Was a French Muslim: Memories of an Algerian Administrative Freedom Fighter. I wouldn’t recommend the book to a friend and I honestly believe there have got to be better memoirs and first hand accounts of the war than this one.

PS: I gotta hand it to whoever did the cover art for the book, because it is beautiful.

[Peg - The History Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review at Shelf Awareness here: https://www.shelf-awareness.com/reade...