Physical Address
Indirizzo: Via Mario Greco 60, Buttigliera Alta, 10090, Torino, Italy
At the end of a memorable evening in tribute to Saliha Regad, alias Khalice Jade, Le Jeune Indépendant spoke with Adila Katia, former columnist and author committed to cultural and social issues in Algeria. She celebrated “a key figure in the artistic scene of the Great South of the country”, as part of the 10th edition of the National Cultural Festival of Women’s Creation.
Le Jeune Indépendant: To begin with, on the occasion of this Festival, you took part in a panel dedicated to the tribute paid to Khalice-Jade. Can you tell us a little more about this?
Adila Katia : This festival was a true celebration of female creativity. I had the honor of discussing, in this respect, the journey of Saliha Regad, known under the pen name Khalice Jade, an emblematic figure of the literature and art of the Algerian Deep South. Her life and work wonderfully embody the strength and sensitivity of women of the desert, women anchored in their traditions while being open to the world. There is, moreover, reason to note that this author is a pioneer, she is the oldest French-speaking writer from the South, affectionately nicknamed by her friends the Queen of Zibans. His journey is simply fascinating! Her sensitivity was perhaps exacerbated by the fact of having lost her father at a very young age, of having been uprooted three times in her life.
She was born in Ouled Djellal. Adopted by her sister, married to a cousin who became her legal guardian, she then settled with them in the north of France. She lived there for nearly twenty years, during which time she nurtured her artistic talent and discovered her voice as an author. In 1964, at just eleven years old, she won a first prize for poetry, praised by the daily La Voix du Nord. It was the beginning of a long artistic adventure fueled by a passion for writing and creation in all its forms.
How did his adventure continue after his return to Algeria?
Back home, she married, had four children and adopted a daughter, whose story she tells in her novel The Vow or El Maram, published in 2011 by the Ministry of Culture. This work perfectly illustrates his values of love, solidarity and family devotion. Khalice Jade is not just a writer; she is also a painter, poet, short story writer, storyteller and haikist teacher. A complete artist.
His work is rich and diverse. Which titles do you think should be retained?
There are so many… Among the best known, we can cite Among the Gazelles, The Complete Past, Abnegation, The Rage of Words – Absurd Reality, Silent Torment, The Vow in the Patio, Beyond Noshaq – Wolf Woman, or even My Pen? My weapon! She has also published collections of poetry such as Cristal – bursts of verse or In the ink of my soul – I write your ills. His works cross genres and generations. Some have even been adapted for the theater, in Algeria as in France. The diversity of his works reflects his undeniable creativity and his ability to reach a wide audience. She has fifteen anthologies and the most recent ones are also published in the country by Aframed Editions. She is finalizing an essay on Albert Camus. For several months, Khalice Jade has been translation director at Inner Child Press in the USA.
She is also very involved in collective and solidarity projects, if I’m not mistaken?
Yes, it is an essential dimension of his journey. She initiated and coordinated several international collections in favor of charitable works: Women in verse, Children of the desert, Tiara of the Nation, Orphans, These little old people from here and elsewhere, and even Divine Woman – matrix of the world. Through these projects, she has contributed to giving a voice to those who are not heard enough, to defending the rights of women and children.
The festival paid him a special tribute this year…
The tribute paid to him this week celebrates not only his artistic talents, but also his deep commitment to the values of solidarity, peace and love. Saliha Ragad, aka Khalice Jade, embodies the power of creativity used for change and justice. His exemplary journey inspires a large number of people, artists and committed citizens.
What are the main paintings that she created and what is special about them?
She has signed several of the best-known paintings, such as “The Spider”, a piece from the series Robotic Insects of the Year 4000, mixing Indian ink and digital art. “A line is everything”, an abstract canvas exploring the possibilities of digital art. “Hallucination”, a work representing a mysterious silhouette and undulating shapes, accompanied by a poem. “El-Ksar”, a digital creation highlighting Algerian architecture and culture. And finally, “The Variegated Man”, a mixed painting combining acrylic and digital retouching. Some of these paintings have also been used as book covers.
You also met other women from the South during the festival. What did you learn from these moments of sharing?
These Southern women symbolize the strength, resilience and richness of a culture deeply rooted in history and tradition.
As an author, during the Literary Café, I had the pleasure of meeting these authors from the South, who, through their writings, tell the history of their region — stories of courage, struggle and beauty, despite the challenges of everyday life.
Other participants, for their part, highlighted age-old knowledge: the art of weaving, dyeing wool with natural products, making organic products and the use of traditional remedies. The new generation, inspired by this heritage, has been able to create original works in the field of fashion design and artisanal jewelry, offering visitors unique pieces.
The Festival thus highlighted these women by honoring their journeys, their experiences and their contributions, participating in better recognition of their preponderant role in society. They are the beating heart of a precious heritage.
Any last words?
I believe this festival is a great lesson in pride and unity. These women from the South do not only represent their region. The latter carry within them the soul of Algeria, its diversity and its strength. Their creativity is our common heritage. Something to be proud of in the diversity and richness of our cultures!