What is "ilougane"

Ilougane: is a small village located in the outskirts of Béjaïa and its neighbouring Bordj Bou Arréridj in Algeria.

As they were highly influenced by Islamic culture when Islam was introduced to North Africa, they adopted Arabic as the main language of the village second to the Amazigh language in respect to the Islamic Prophet Mohamed. The village is currently deserted as its most inhabitants left for better living conditions in neighbouring cities in late 1970s, mostly to Bordj Bou Arreridj, and the reminder were forced to flee during the years of the so-called terrorism in Algeria in the late 1980s to early 1990s.

The main families in the village are in no particular order: The Malek's, The Khellaf's, The Nait Seghir's, Ben Abderrahmane's and The Belaabass's. The first man thought to have first settled in the Village is Sidi Ahmad Sassi. The descendants of these families are currently highly educated individuals including teachers, university Lecturers, engineers and doctors, some of which have immigrated to the UK, France and the United States to pursue further education. In March 2011 Mr Ismail Khellaf created a Facebook group called Ilougane of which members are all of Lougani origine, in honour of their descent.