The Construction of Narratives Around Postcolonial Algerian Identity: Examining Imane Khelif Journey During Paris Olympic Games 2024

Abstract

This study explores the narratives surrounding the Algerian postcolonial identity through examining the Algerian boxer “Imane KHELIF” journey during Paris (2024) Olympic games. To this end, a qualitative research design that combines narrative and semiotic analysis is followed to answer the research questions. These two methods are used to analyse a purposive stratified sample that includes 19 captions of posts of worldly influential figures on Tweeter, Instagram and Facebook. While narrative analysis is applied to analyse the language of the whole sample, the semiotic analysis is projected upon only six images that are deemed to yield findings that complement the narrative analysis. Interpreting the findings within postcolonial theory, the study has revealed that many tensions related to the Algerian identity continue to exist between the Western world and the modern decolonised Algeria. To site but the main ones, Imane KHELIF is represented differently, proponents framed her as a symbol of resistance and national pride while opponents portrayed her as a threat to women’s sports to impose Eurocentric standards of femininity. The findings also indicate that the same images of Khelif were used to convey opposing ideological messages, highlighting the polysemic nature of media signs.