Aicha Lemsine

1942 -

Pseudonym for Aicha Laidi, an Algerian novelist and essay writer.

Aicha Lemsine was born in the Nemencha, Algeria, to a Muslim family. As of 2004 she was living in Algeria and was active in women's literary organizations, in addition to contributing newspaper articles on the political and ethnic situation in her country. Her first novel, La chrysalide (1976; The chrysalis), is a romantic account of women of two generations; the elder battles polygamy and the younger displays her emancipation by becoming pregnant out of wedlock. Ciel de porphyre (1978; Porphyry sky), set during the Algerian War of Independence, tells the story of the initiation of a young woman into the Resistance. Lemsine's third book, Ordalie des voix (1983; Voices of tribulations), consists of interviews with Arab women on their role in society and their struggle to achieve emancipation.

Bibliography

Graebner, Seth. Encyclopedia of African Literature. New York and London: Routledge, 2003.

Jack, Belinda. Francophone Literatures: An Introductory Survey. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

— AIDA A. BAMIA