I think it's wortwhile creating threads for writers potentially in with a shout of the Nobel...so, without further ado, some cribbing from Wikipedia:

Assia Djebar is the pen-name of Fatima-Zohra Imalayen (born June 30, 1936), an Algerian novelist, translator and filmmaker. Most of her works deal with the obstacles faced by women, and she is noted for her feminist stance. Djebar is considered to be one of North Africa's most famous and influential writers, and was elected to the Acad?mie fran?aise on June 16, 2005, the first writer from the Maghreb to achieve such recognition.

Here's her website, too.

We've got a thread on one of her works: http://www.worldliteratureforum.com/...cavalcade.html.