Tribal Belly dance in Algeria: the Ouled Naïl

Ouled Naïl dancers

The Ouled Naïl tribe of Algeria is now living from Biskra to D'jelfa. They have even a name of a mountain ridge on the map: "Montes des Ouled". After world war 2 they were wrongly accused of collaborating with the French who colonized Algeria until 1962.
Ouled Nail are a grateful source of inspiration for Tribal Style bellydance outfit.

Their dance was sometimes done in pairs and with the use of a scarf or veil. Check for more pictures and extensive info on the Ouled Naïl.

French painter and writer Etienne Dinet did his first trip to Algeria in 1884. He fell in love with the country and finally to relocate to the Algerian town of Bou-Saada where he lived between the Ouled Naïl. His friendship with Slimane gave him a rare insight in the lives of the Oulad Nail.