"Kassaman", or "Qassaman" (, "we pledge", For the next century, the native population were given very few political rights. Consequently, a nationalist movement began in the 1920s and gained traction after World War II, when a commitment by the government to grant French Algeria autonomy failed to materialize. A prominent member of this movement was Moufdi Zakaria, a Mozabite Berber poet affiliated with the Algerian People's Party (PPA). He was jailed and tortured on several occasions between the 1920s and 1962. that he penned the words to "Kassaman". The musical portion of the anthem was subsequently composed by Mohamed Fawzi,

Lyrics

The lyrics of "Kassaman" are reflective of a war song, This is because it promotes nationalistic ideals and principles on the front line, glorifies the actions of the National Liberation Front (FLN), as well as espousing armed uprising and how it is the sole route to attaining independence.

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!Transliteration

!IPA transcription

!English translation

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|<poem>I

𝄆 We swear by the lightning that destroys,

By the streams of generous blood being shed, 𝄇

By the bright flags that wave,

Flying proudly on the high mountains

That we are in revolt, whether to live or to die,

We are determined that Algeria should live,

So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

II

𝄆 We are soldiers, for the sake of justice we revolted,

And for our independence we waged war, 𝄇

When we spoke, nobody listened to us,

So we have taken the noise of gunpowder as our rhythm

And the sound of machine guns as our melody,

We are determined that Algeria should live,

So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

III

𝄆 O France, the time of reproof is over

And we have closed it as a book is closed; 𝄇

O France, this is the day of reckoning

So prepare to receive from us our answer!

In our revolution is the end of empty talk;

We are determined that Algeria should live,

So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

IV

𝄆 From our heroes we shall make an army come to being,

From our dead we shall build up a glory, 𝄇

Our spirits shall ascend to immortality

And on our shoulders we shall raise the Standard.

To the nation's Liberation Front we have sworn an oath,

We are determined that Algeria should live,

So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!

V

𝄆 The cry of the motherland sounds from the battlefields.

Listen to it and answer the call! 𝄇

Let it be written with the blood of martyrs

And be read to future generations.

Oh, Glory, we have held out our hand to you,

We are determined that Algeria should live,

So be our witness -be our witness -be our witness!</poem>

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Even though "Kassaman" was adopted in 1962, it was not until November 2008 that an amendment to Article 5 of the Constitution of Algeria was made declaring it as "immutable", given its association with the country's revolution.