Mini DzFest 2026 comes to Cardiff Metropolitan University for an afternoon exploring Algerian heritage, identity, memory and the importance of protecting North African material culture.
Part of DzFest – The Algerian Festival for Arts and Culture, the event focuses on the Algerian Blousa, a historic garment associated particularly with the Oranie region of western Algeria and cities including Tlemcen, Oran and Mostaganem.
More than a piece of clothing, the Blousa is presented as a living archive reflecting regional identity, artistic skill, historical change and cultural resistance.
As the garment moves towards greater international recognition, the event considers what it means for an Indigenous fashion tradition to enter global cultural institutions.
Questions around cultural ownership, colonial disruption, preservation and the role of artisans will be explored through discussion, film and shared reflection.
Fashion and design scholar Nada Koreish will lead an examination of the Blousa’s history, its development over time and the wider decolonisation of North African material culture.
The programme also includes short films curated by Lhara Films, followed by a debate and round-table conversation in which audiences can respond to the issues raised.
Presented in collaboration with the University of Manchester, the Fashion Liberation Collective North Africa and Lhara Films, the event brings together academic research, creative practice and community knowledge.
Taking place during Black History Month, Mini DzFest 2026 offers an important opportunity to explore North African history within wider conversations about Black identity, heritage and cultural sovereignty.
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