Résumé:
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.
