KABYLIA. – A region entirely included within the two dioceses of Algeria and Constantine, inhabited by a population of approximately 1,250,000 inhabitants, which is steadily increasing, completely Islamized and very attached to ancient traditions. The poverty of the soil and demographic growth force the Kabyle to hard physical and intellectual labor and even to emigrate, especially to France. State schools, almost exclusively for boys, are numerous and, together with other factors, while contributing to the improvement of society and individuals, also tend to make the individual materialistic and secular. The situation of women is dire, as she enjoys no rights in social life. The Kabyle speak a Berber dialect, the Kabyle language.
The Jesuits were the first to exercise apostolic work there, and from 1872 the White Fathers and later the White Sisters began a slow work of penetration, especially through charitable and welfare institutions. The mission, which does not depend on the Propaganda Fide, also has 8 schools for boys and 6 schools for girls, as well as 8 workshops that employ about 2,000 boys. As in other Islamized environments, much patience, deep disinterest, complete knowledge of the language, institutions, mentality and aspirations of the people are necessary, since in its recent contacts with the world it has immediately become aware of its own strengths and abilities.