Nihad Sebaa challenges stereotypes of Algerian women in her debut novel

Nihad Sebaa, a 30-year-old human rights advocate and Geneva-based NGO representative, has released her debut novel, "Je suis devenue personne" (I became no one). Born in Tlemcen and raised in France, Sebaa built her career as an autodidact, eventually reaching positions at the UN, where she focuses on health, human rights, and youth participation. Her novel, an autofiction, follows a protagonist named Nahla who struggles against societal labels placed upon immigrant women. Sebaa aims to confront the persistent clichés surrounding Algerian women in France, which she describes as legacies of the colonial past that view women as either submissive or in need of liberation. Through her writing, she challenges these external perceptions and highlights the internal struggle of identity. The book is currently available on Amazon, and the author is actively seeking a publisher in Algeria to bring her work to local bookstores.