Launch of the Second Phase of the #Storytellers_Caravan… #Kan Ya Makan

The Ministry of Culture and Arts, through the Algerian Agency for Cultural Outreach (AARC), is launching the second phase of the “Storytellers Caravan – Once Upon a Time” program across 15 northern wilayas (Central, Eastern, and Western) as well as several inland wilayas, running from August 16 to 20, 2026.

This initiative aligns with the Ministry’s endeavor to bring cultural activities closer to citizens, especially children and youth, and fulfills its policy aimed at safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and strengthening its presence in national cultural life.

This phase builds upon the success of the program’s first phase, which covered the ten (10) newly created southern wilayas during April and May 2026.

The program aims to revive the art of the traditional storyteller (Hakawati) as a major cornerstone of Algerian oral heritage, and to restore the folk tale as a medium for transmitting inherited values, knowledge, and traditions, alongside its role in fostering imagination, creativity, and national identity among children.

This initiative is part of a broader series of cultural endeavors launched by the Ministry to enhance intangible heritage. The “Once Upon a Time” program notably made a standout appearance during the “7/7 My Culture” event through a week of intensive cultural activities across various institutions. Additionally, tramcars across seven wilayas hosted live storytelling performances in coordination with the tramway authority—a cultural initiative warmly received by the public that successfully brought this art form closer to diverse audiences.

Stay tuned for the Storytellers Caravan as it visits various wilayas (according to the attached schedule), bringing along the tales of Algerian memory on a cultural journey that opens new doors for children to explore the treasures of their oral tradition.