Ouled El Bahdja
Ouled EL Bahdja was a supporters' group of USM Alger football fans established in the 1990s by a group of fans from Casbah. Members were known for chanting songs in support of their club, USM Alger. Ouled El Bahdja is widely recognized for popularizing protest songs in Algeria. Originally created to perform chants in the stands of Omar Hamadi Stadium, the group's repertoire gradually evolved to address social and political issues, including youth unemployment, corruption, and the country's political situation.
In 2019, several of the collective's songs gained nationwide prominence during the Hirak, the mass protest movement that began on 22 February 2019 in opposition to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's bid for a fifth presidential term. Among the group's most notable songs were La Ultima Verba and La Casa del Mouradia, both of which became closely associated with the demonstrations and were widely sung by protesters across the country.
La Ultima Verba, released in collaboration with Algerian rapper Soolking, achieved significant popularity on digital platforms shortly after its release. Meanwhile, La Casa del Mouradia, inspired by the Spanish television series La Casa de Papel, employed satirical lyrics to criticize Algeria's political leadership and Bouteflika's attempt to seek another presidential term. Its chorus became one of the most recognizable chants of the Hirak movement.
The songs of Ouled El Bahdja are widely regarded as symbolic of the 2019 protest movement. Their popularity extended beyond football stadiums, highlighting the role of supporters' groups in expressing social and political grievances in Algeria. Members wished to remain anonymous, and refused public appearance and media interviews. The group was officially disbanded in 2022, citing problems and harassment facing its members.
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