This is how Black Feet dominated Algerians’ properties

The biography of a prominent black foot shows how some colonizers could become rich after stealing Algerians’ belongings. Now, they rely on justice to kick Algerians out after independence.

Antoine Frederique was born in 1821 in southern France. Just after he had moved to the Algerian capital in 1843, he became one of the richest people in Algeria during colonization, according to a biographic document made by his family.

The document says Antoine set up a clothes making workshop in Algeria in 1845. In 1859, he started supplying the colonization army with clothes and shoes. Fifty years later, he became the first French industrial in Algeria.

In 1868, Antoine became the executive clothes and shoes supplier of about 10,000 French soldiers in Algeria. He also supplied donkeys for the colonization army which was always in war with Algerian indigenes.

In 1877, Antoine inaugurated a series of workshops in Algiers. A year later, he obtained large lands of around 330 hectares and a leather factory. He was specialized in cereals and silk production.

Antoine died in 1887 and left two sons. The elder became an advisor at the Algiers local Assembly in 1884 but resigned to replace his father as a general advisor.

In 1902, the son became the governor of Algiers. A year later, he received the French President at that time.

When the elder son died, he was succeeded by his elder son Georges in managing the family’s enterprises. He was also elected as a general advisor in 1919. Then, he became a judge at the commercial tribunal in 1922. He died in 1956 and was succeeded by his son René in managing the family’s properties.

According to the same document, the family’s properties were nationalized in 1963 by the Algerian State.