Everything about The Tuareg totally explained
The
Tuareg (also
Twareg or
Touareg,
Amazigh:
Imuhagh /
Itargiyen, besides
their own) are a
nomadic
pastoralist people, and are the principal inhabitants of the Saharan interior of North Africa. They call themselves variously
Kel Tamasheq or
Kel Tamajaq ("Speakers of
Tamasheq"),
Imuhagh,
Imazaghan or
Imashaghen ("the Free people"), or
Kel Tagelmust, for example, "People of the Veil". The name
Tuareg was applied to them by early explorers and historians (since
Leo Africanus).
The origin and meaning of the name
Twareg has long been debated with various etymologies advanced, although it would appear that
Twārəg is derived from the "
broken plural" of
Tārgi, a name whose former meaning was "inhabitant of
Targa" (the Tuareg name of the
Libyan region commonly known as
Fezzan.
Targa in Berber means "(drainage) channel", see Alojali
et al. 2003: 656,
s.v. "Targa").
The Tuareg today are found mostly in
West Africa, but, like many in Northern Africa, were once
nomads throughout the
Sahara. They have a little-used but ancient script known as the
tifinaɤ.
History
Descended from Berbers in the region that's now
Libya, the Tuareg are descendants of ancient Saharan peoples described by
Herodotus, who mentions the ancient Libyan people, the
Garamantes. Archaeological testimony is the ruins of
Germa. Later, they expanded southward, into the
Sahel.
For over two millennia, the Tuareg operated the
trans-Saharan caravan trade connecting the great cities on the southern edge of the Sahara via five desert trade routes to the northern (
Mediterranean) coast of Africa. the Tuareg were subdued and required to sign treaties in
Mali 1905 and
Niger 1917. In southern
Algeria, the French met some of the strongest resistance from the
Ahaggar Tuareg. Their
Amenokal, traditional chief
Moussa ag Amastan, fought numerous battles in defense of the region. Finally, Tuareg territories were taken under French governance and their confederations were largely dismantled and reorganized.
Before French colonization, the Tuareg were organized into loose confederations, each consisting of a dozen or so tribes. Each of the main groups had a traditional leader called
Amenokal along with an assembly of tribal chiefs (
imɤaran, singular
amɤar). The groups were the
Kel Ahaggar,
Kel Ajjer,
Kel Ayr,
Adrar n Fughas,
Iwəlləmədan, and
Kel Gres.
Following the independence of African countries in 1960s, Tuareg territory was artificially divided into modern nations:
Niger,
Mali,
Algeria,
Libya, and
Burkina Faso.
Long-standing competition for resources in the
Sahel has impacted Tuareg conflicts with neighboring African groups, especially after political disruption and economic constraints following French colonization and independence, tight restrictions placed on nomadization, high
population growth, and
desertification exacerbated by
global warming and the increased firewood needs of growing cities. Today, some Tuareg are experimenting with farming; some have been forced to abandon herding, and seek jobs in towns and cities.
In
Mali, a
Tuareg uprising resurfaced in the
Adrar N'Fughas mountains in the
1960s, following Mali's independence. In May
1990, in the aftermath of a clash between government soldiers and Tuareg outside a prison in
Tchin-Tabaraden, Niger, Tuaregs in both Mali and Niger claimed autonomy for their traditional homeland: (
Tenere, capital
Agadez, in Niger and the
Azawad and
Kidal regions of Mali). Deadly clashes between Tuareg fighters and the military of both countries followed, with deaths numbering well into the thousands. Negotiations initiated by France and
Algeria led to peace agreements (
January 11,
1992 in Mali and
1995 in Niger). Both agreements called for decentralization of national power and guaranteed the integration of Tuareg resistance fighters into the countries' respective national armies.
Major fighting between the Tuareg resistance and government security forces ended after the 1995 and 1996 agreements, but in
2004, sporadic fighting continued in Niger between government forces and groups struggling to obtain Tuareg independence. In 2007, a new
surge in violence occurred.
Traditional social stratification
Traditionally, Tuareg society is hierarchal, with
nobility and vasals. Each Tuareg clan (
tawshet) is made up of several family groups, led by their collective chiefs, the
amghar. A series of tribes
tawsheten may bond together under an
Amenokal, forming a
Kel clan confederation. Tuareg self identify only as being of their specific
Kel which means "those of". E.g.
Kel Dinnig (those of the east),
Kel Ataram (those of the west).
Nobility
The work of pastoralism was specialized according to social class. Tels are ruled by the
imúšaɤ (
Imajaghan,
The Proud and Free) nobility, warrior-aristocrats who organized group defense, livestock raids, and the long-distance caravan trade. Below them were a number of specialised metier castes. The
ímɤad (
Imghad, sing.
Amghid), the second rank of Tuareg society, were free vassal-herdsmen and warriors, who pastured and tended most of the confederation's livestock. Formerly bonded vassals of specific
Imajaghan, they're said by tradition to be decended from nobility in the distant past, and thus maintain a degree of social distance from lower orders. Traditionally, some merchant castes had a higher status than all but the nobility among their more settled compatriots to the south. With time, the difference between the two castes has eroded in some places, following the economic fortunes of the two groups.
Imajaghan have traditionally disdained certain types of labor and prided themselves in their warrior skills. The existence of lower servile and semi servile classes has allowed for the development of highly ritualised poetic, sport, and courtship traditions. Following colonial subjection, independence, and the famines of the 1970s and 1980s, noble classes have more and more been forced to abandon their caste differences and have taken on labor and lifestyles they might traditionally have rejected.
Client castes
After the adoption of Islam, a separate class of religious clerics, the
Ineslemen marabouts, also became integral to Tuareg social structure. Following the decimation of many clans' noble
Imajaghan caste in the colonial wars of the 19th and 20th centuries, the
Ineslemen gained leadership in some clans, despite their often servile origins. Traditionally
Ineslemen clans had been unarmed, providing spiritual guidance for the nobility, and receiving protection and alms in return.
Inhædˤæn (
Inadan), were a blacksmith-client caste who fabricated and repaired the saddles, tools, household equipment and other material needs of the community. In most communities the
Inadin were freedmen drawn from the servile
éklan caste and considered outside the Tel, and thus outside Tuareg society proper.
Bonded castes and slaves
As did many other ethnic groups in West Africa, the Tuareg once held
slaves (
éklan /
Ikelan in
Tamasheq,
Bouzou in
Hausa,
Bella in
Songhai). Tuareg skin color in general is considerably darker than most Mediterranean Berbers, and lighter, in general, than sub-Saharan populations. The Tuareg refer to themselves as "red-skinned," like most other Saharan peoples including the Maures, Tubu, and Amhara. Slaves were taken as prisoners of war as the Tuareg moved south beginning in the 11th century AD, and many slaves may have originated among Songhay, Djerma and Hausa communities, groups that also held slaves. These
éklan once formed a distinct social class in Tuareg society. Slaves lived near their owners as domestic servants and herders, and functioned as part of the family, with close social interactions. Some Tuareg noble and vassal men married slaves, and their children became freemen. In this sense,
éklan formed distinct sub-communities: a class held in an inherited
serfdom like condition, common in pre-colonial West Africa. French colonial governments passed legislation to abolish slavery but didn't enforce it; this was more in the interest of dismantling the traditional Tuareg political economy, which depended on slave labor for herding, as well as "pacification" of the fiercely resistant Tuareg, than a blanket liberation of slaves.
While post independence states have sought to outlaw slavery, results have been mixed, and old caste relationships remain in many places. According to the
Travel Channel show
Bob Geldof in Africa, the descendants of those slaves (known as the
Bella) are still slaves in all but name. In
Niger, where the practice of slavery was outlawed in 2003, a study found that almost 8% of the population are still slaves.
Tuareg territory
The Tuareg people inhabit a large area covering almost all the middle and western
Sahara and the north-central
Sahel. In Tuareg terms, the Sahara isn't one desert but many, so they call it
Tinariwen ("the Deserts"). Among the many deserts in Africa there's the true desert
Tenere. Then we can cite numerous deserts more and less arid, flat and mountainous:
Adrar,
Tagant, Tawat (
Touat)
Tanezruft,
Adghagh n Fughas,
Tamasna,
Azawagh,
Adar,
Damargu,
Tagama,
Manga,
Ayr,
Tarramit (Termit),
Kawar,
Djado,
Tadmait,
Admer,
Igharghar,
Ahaggar,
Tassili N'Ajjer,
Tadrart,
Idhan,
Tanghart,
Fezzan,
Tibesti,
Kalansho,
Libyan Desert, etc.
Tuareg confederations, political centers, and leaders
At the turn of the 19th century the Tuareg country was organized into confederations, each ruled by a supreme Chief (
Amenokal), along with a counsel of senior tribes people elected to assist the chief.
Kel Ajjer or Azjar, center Aghat (Ghat).
Kel Ahaggar, in Ahaggar mountains
Kel Adagh, or Kel Assuk, Kidal, and Tin Buktu
Iwillimmidan Kel Ataram, Manaka, and Azawagh region
Iwillimmidan Kel Denneg, In Tibaraden, Abalagh, Teliya Azawagh.
Kel Gres, Zinder and Tanut (Tanout).
Kel Ayr, Asode, Agadez, In Gal, Timia and Ifrwan.
The most famous Tuareg leader was a woman, Tin Hinan, heroine and spiritual leader, who founded a legendary kingdom in the Ahaggar mountains. Other confederation leaders followed under the title of Amenokal (Chief), of whom the most famous include:
Karidanna, of the Iwillimmidan
Waisimudan, of Iwillimidan
Aljilani Ag Ibrahim, of Iwillimidan
Busari Ag Akhmad, of Iwillimidan
Musa Ag Amastan, of Kel Ahaggar
Ibrahim Ag Abakkada, of Kel Azjar
Amud, of Kel Azjar
Makhammad Ag Katami, of Iwillimmidan
Balkhu, of Kel Ayr
Wan Agoda, of Kel Faday (Kel Ayr)
Ahitaghal, of Kel Ahaggar
Akhanokhan, of Kel Azjar
Khadakhada, of Iwillimidan
Alkhurer, of Iwillimidan
Bazu, Iwillimidan
Makhammad Wan Ag Alkhurer Iwillimidan
Abdurrakhman Tagama, of Kel Ayr
Hammed Almomin Iwillimidan
Fihrun Ag Amansar, of Iwillimidan
Atisi Ag Amellal of Kel Ahaggar
Akhamok Ag Ihemma of Kel Ahaggar
Bay Ag Akhamok of Kel Ahaggar
Khamzata Ag Makhammad, of Iwillimidan
Edaber Ag Makhammad the new Amenokal of Kel Ahaggar
Culture
The Tuareg are matrilineal, though not matriarchal. Unlike many Muslim societies, women don't traditionally wear the veil, whereas men do. The most famous Tuareg symbol is the Tagelmust(also called éghéwed in Malian Tamasheq, or referred to as a Cheche, pronounced: Shesh from Berber), an often blue indigo coloured veil called Alasho. The men's facial covering originates from the belief that such action wards off evil spirits, but most probably relates to protection against the harsh desert sands as well; in any event, it's a firmly established tradition (as is the wearing of amulets containing verses from the Qur'an). Men begin wearing a veil when they reach maturity which usually conceals their entire face excluding their eyes and the top of the nose.
Tuareg people have a very personal wedding, there's an unspoken law about other people not interfering with marriage. The only tradition they know is a 'quarantine' period after one's husband's/wife's death. The widow is supposed to make something whereby her husband should be remembered during this period, and she's not to see other men. Men usually have to cleanse themselves physically and mentally. An unusual feature of Tuareg marriage is that before the Islamisation women weren't inferior to men. Nor was there a common punishment for women or men who were unfaithful
Although Tuareg aren't supposed to have more than one lifepartner (a relationship is practically equal to an engagement and once you're a couple you're expected to get married) it's highly unusual for them to stay single. When a partner passes away, they're expected to get married again (when the quarantine is finished). If there are no potential partners or the widow or widower is too old to get married there are exceptions.
Many Tuareg today are either settled agriculturalists or nomadic cattle breeders; though there are also blacksmiths and caravan leaders.
The Tuareg are sometimes called the "Blue People" because the indigo pigment in the cloth of their traditional robes and turbans stained the wearer's skin dark blue. Today, the traditional indigo turban is still preferred for celebrations, and generally Tuaregs wear clothing and turbans in a variety of colors.
Language
The Tuareg speak Tamajaq/Tamasheq/Tamahaq, a southern Berber language having several dialects among the different regions. The Berber dialects spoken in the Rif (Tamazight), Atlas and Souss regions of Morocco differ somewhat from each other and also from the Tuareg dialects spoken further south. Berber is an Afro-Asiatic language closely related to Pharaonic Egyptian. The language is called Tamasheq by western Tuareg in Mali, Tamahaq among Algerian and Libyan Tuareg, and Tamajaq in the Azawagh and Aïr regions, Niger. The Tamajaq writing system, Tifinagh (also called Shifinagh), descends directly from the original Berber script used by the Numidians in pre-Roman times. The exhibition is also being shown at UCLA Fowler Museum in Los Angeles and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington DC.
Across History the Tuareg are renowned and respected warriors. Their decline a military Might came with the introduction of the fire arms, weapons which the Tuareg don't possess. The Tuareg warrior attire consists of a Takoba (sword), Allagh (lance) and Aghar (shield) made of antelope's skin.
Traditional music
Traditional Tuareg music has two major components: the moncord violin Anzad played often during night parties and a small tambour covered with goatskin called Tende, performed during camel races and horse races. and other festivities. Traditional vocal songs called Asak (songs), and Tisiway (poems) sung by women and men during feats and social occasions. Another popular Tuareg musical genre is Takamba, characteristic for its Afro-Berber percussions.
Tinariwen, a Tuareg band that fuses electric guitars and indigenous musical styles, was founded in the 1980s by rebel fighters. They released their first CD in 2000, and toured in Europe and the United States in 2004. The Niger-based band Etran Finatawa combines Tuareg and Wodaabe members, playing a combination of traditional instruments and electric guitars.
Many music groups emerged after the 1980s cultural revival.
Among them Tartit, Imaran and known artists are: Abdallah Oumbadougou from Ayr, Baly Othmany of Djanet.
Tuareg Music genres, Music groups and artists:
Majila Ag Khamed Ahmad, singer Asak (vocal music), of Aduk, Niger
Almuntaha female Anzad (Tuareg violin) player, of Aduk, Niger
Ajju female Anzad (Tuareg violin) player, of Agadez, Niger
Islaman singer, genre Asak (vocal music), of Abalagh, Niger
Tambatan singer, genre Asak (vocal music), Tchin-Tabaraden, Niger
Alghadawiat female Anzad (Tuareg violin) player, of Akoubounou, Niger
Taghdu female Anzad (Tuareg violin) player, of Aduk, Niger
In Tayaden singer and guitar player, Mali
Kiddu Ag Hossad singer and guitar player, Mali
Baly Othmani singer, luth player, Djanet Algeria
Abdalla Ag Umbadugu, singer and guitar player, Agadez, Niger
The Desert Festival in Mali's Timbuktu is the best place to see Tuareg culture and dance and hear their music. The event has the easiest access for tourists and isn't yet very commercialised (though the process is happening).
Tuareg Traditional Games:
Tiddas a game made with small stones and sticks similar dames.
Izagag a game made with small stome or dryed fruits.
Iswa a game player by pick-up stones while throwing another stone.
Melghas a game children hide themselves and onther tries to find and touch them before they the water well and drink.
Tabillant traditional Tuareg wrestling
Alamom wretling while running
Solagh another type of wrestling
Tammazaga or Tammalagha race on camel back
Takket consist of staying awake singing and playing all the night.
Takadant game that make children trying to image what thing the others.
Shishagheren consist of writing the name of ones lover to see if this person gives good luck.
Taqqanen telling devinettes and enigmas.
Maru Maru young people to constitute and mimic how works the tribe.
Tuareg Music and Culture Festivals:
Cure Salee Festival in the oasis of In-Gall, Niger
Sabeiba Festival in Ganat (Djanet) Algeria
Shiriken Festival in Akabinu (Akoubounou) Niger
Takubelt Tuareg Festival in Mali
Ghat Festival in Aghat (Ghat) Libya
Festival au Desert in Mali
Ghadames Berber and Tuareg Festival in Libya
Economy
The Tuareg are a pastoral people, having an economy based on livestock breeding, trading, and agriculture. This is probably part of the reason for the widely varying estimates of the number of Tuareg in the world.
In Popular Culture
A fictionalized group of Tuareg are one of the primary factions in a civil war underway in Mali featured in the 2005 film Sahara. They're pitted against an enemy who has greater military power and weaponry but they ultimately defeat their adversary in a climactic scene near the movies end.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Tuareg'.
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