Algeria’s minister of culture, Malika Bendouda, has been criticised on social media after she suggested that all women should have the skills to prepare couscous, a traditional dish in the country and a staple in the Maghreb region.
Speaking at an event celebrating Unesco’s decision to list the traditional dish as a heritage of humanity, Bendouda said,
“I particularly greet the women, from Numidia, who prepare this dish which is couscous. I salute the girls and women who continue to roll couscous and prepare this dish, this is an important question. I particularly salute the women, especially the new generation who continue to roll couscous.”
Alegria, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania had presented a joint bid for the dish to be listed.
Expressing her satisfaction after the classification of couscous as an intangible heritage of humanity, she said:
“Couscous is not just a dish. It’s a long story, that of the peoples of the region and their attachment to wheat. Our region was throughout history the main exporter of wheat to the Roman Empire. The women had the ingenuity to transform the wheat, to consume it throughout the year.”
Malika Bendouda also spoke of the importance of couscous in Algerian society and that its “presence in homes was directly linked to the continuity of life”.
“The woman who does not know how to roll couscous is a threat to her families,” said the minister.
One angry internet user said Ms Bendouda’s comments were “shameful” and “unacceptable.”
Another female user responded: “I admit here I am not able to prepare couscous. Is that so serious”, and questioned the skills of the minister herself in preparing the famous dish.
