Mascara also spelled Maskara, is the capital city of Mascara Province. It has 150,000 inhabitants (2008 estimate). It was founded in the 10th century by the Banu Ifran, a Berber tribe, and was the capital city of Emir Abd al-Qadir, a leader of the Algerian resistance to early French colonial rule in the 19th century. Mascara is an administrative, commercial and a market centre. Its trade is mostly centered on leather goods, grains, and olive oil, but it is especially famous for its good wine. It has good road and rail connections with other urban centres of Algeria. Relizane is 65 km northeast, Sidi Bel Abbes 90 km southwest, Oran 105 kkm northwest and Saïda 80 km south. Mascara has two parts, a newer French area, and an older Muslim one. Large parts of the town lie inside the ruins of its ancient ramparts. The city is the home of Lakhdar Belloumi, a former Algerian football (soccer) star.

Etymology

The word mascara is a Francisation of the Arabic word معسكر (mu'askar), meaning 'camp'. French colonization caused the city's name to be adopted in the French version as an official name. The name "mascara" was likely given in reference to the city that bears the same name, since in the mid-19th century the French discovered antimony powder during their conquest in the old town of Mascara in Algeria. The nomadic tribes used the cosmetic as a beauty product but also to protect themselves from various trachomas and eye diseases.

History

Regency of Algiers

French invasion and early French rule

Algeria (sovereign state)

Twin towns/sister cities

Mascara is twinned with: