Tuareg - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage
PRONUNCIATION:
Saharan and Sahelian Africa (mostly Niger, Mali, Algeria, Libya, and
Burkina Faso)
POPULATION:
About 1 million
Islam, combined with traditional beliefs and practices
1 o INTRODUCTION
The Tuareg are an Islamic African people. They are classified as
seminomadic
, meaning that they travel with their herds on a seasonal basis but also
have a home area where they grow some food crops.
The Tuareg are best known for the men's practice of veiling their
faces with a blue cloth dyed with indigo. Early travelers'
accounts often referred to them as the "Blue Men" of the
Sahara Desert, the region where many Tuareg live. It is believed that
the Tuareg are descendants of the North African Berbers, and that they
originated in the Fezzan region of Libya. They later expanded into
regions bordering the Sahara, bringing local farming peoples into their
own society.
By the fourteenth century, trade routes to the wealthy salt, gold,
ivory, and slave markets in North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East
had sprung up across Tuareg territory. The Tuareg grew rich as livestock
breeders and traders in the Saharan and
regions. (The
is the region south of the Sahara Desert that is marked by times of
drought but is not a real desert.
In the late nineteenth century, European exploration and military
expeditions led to French rule of the Tuareg homeland. By the early
twentieth century, the French had brought the Tuareg under their
colonial control. They ended Tuareg trade activities, including the
collection of tariffs and the protection services for camel caravans
crossing the Sahara.
2 o LOCATION
Most of the Tuareg live in the Saharan and Sahelian
regions—southern Algeria, western Libya, eastern Mali, northern
Niger, and northeastern Burkina Faso. The landscape includes flat desert
plains, rugged savanna (grassland), and volcanic mountains. Due to
drought and famine, many Tuareg have migrated to rural areas and cities
farther south. Political tensions with the governments of Mali and Niger
have also caused migration.
The total Tuareg population has been estimated at about 1 million.
3 o LANGUAGE
The major language of the Tuareg is Tamacheq, which is in the Berber
language group. A written script called Tifinagh is used in poetry and
also appears in Saharan rock art. Many of the Tuareg also speak Songhay,
Hausa, and French, and read Arabic.
4 o FOLKLORE
There are many proverbs, riddles, myths, and folk tales among the
Tuareg. Animal tales depicting human moral questions are popular with
children. They feature the
jackal, hyena, and rabbit—animal characters widespread in
African folklore.
Many Tuareg groups have myths about female ancestors who were founders
of traditions. One is Tagurmat, who fought a battle on Mount Bagzan in
the Air region. Her twin daughters are said to have founded the herbal
healing profession.
Another popular figure in myth and folk tales is Aligouran, a character
in a series of adventures involving an uncle and his nephew.
Many stories are about spirits, called
who are believed to play tricks on humans beings who are traveling
alone in the desert.
5 o RELIGION
Most Tuareg are Muslims. But their traditional belief system and rituals
overlap with Islam. For example, there is a widespread belief in
spirits. Most spirits are considered evil and are believed to cause
illnesses. Some Tuareg perform fortune-telling with cowrie shells,
lizards, mirrors, and the Koran (the sacred text of Islam).
Unlike women in many other Islamic societies, most Tuareg women do not
wear veils in public. They may also independently inherit property and
begin the process leading to a divorce.
Islamic holy men, called
marabouts,
are believed to possess a special power of blessing, called
al baraka.
They educate children in verses from the Koran and they officiate at
ceremonies marking rites of passage and Muslim holidays.
6 o MAJOR HOLIDAYS
The Tuareg celebrate Muslim holy days, as well as secular (nonreligious)
state holidays.
commemorates the story of Abraham's willingess to sacrifice his
son. Each household slaughters a goat or ram, feasts on its meat, and
prays at the prayer ground. The Tuareg celebrate
(also called
), the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, with special sacred and
secular songs and camel races. The end of the month-long Ramadan fast is
celebrated by animal sacrifice, feasting, prayer, and evening dancing
festivals. Secular holidays that the Tuareg celebrate include Niger
Independence Day (August 3) and Niger Republic Day (December 18). On
these days, there are camel races and feasting in
the countryside, and parades and speeches in the towns.
7 o RITES OF PASSAGE
Name day is held one week following a baby's birth. On the
evening before the name day, the older female relatives carry the baby
around the mother's tent. They give him or her a secret name in
the Tamacheq language. The next day, the baby's hair is shaved in
order to cut off the baby's ties to the spirit world. At the
mosque, the marabout (Islamic holy man) and the father give the baby an
Arabic name from the Koran. As the marabout pronounces the baby's
official Koranic name, he cuts the throat of a ram. Then there are
feasts, camel races, and evening dancing festivals.
Tuareg men begin to wear a veil over the face at approximately eighteen
years of age. This signifies that they are adults and are ready to
marry. The first veiling is performed in a special ritual by a marabout.
He recites verses from the Koran as he wraps the veil around the young
man's head.
Weddings are very elaborate, lasting for seven days. There are camel
races and evening festivals featuring songs and dances. The
groom's family arrives in the
bride's village on gaily decorated camels and donkeys. Older
female relatives of the bride build her a special tent.
Burial takes place as soon as possible after a person has died. It is
quickly concluded with a graveside prayer led by a marabout. Burial is
followed by
or condolences. Relatives and friends gather at the home of the dead
person, and the marabout offers a prayer and blessing. The guests eat a
memorial feast.
8 o RELATIONSHIPS
Like many other African societies, the Tuareg have very elaborate
greetings. In the Air regional dialect,
signifies "How are you?" This is followed by
Mani eghiwan,
meaning "How is your family?", and additional greetings
Mani echeghel?
(How is your work?). The usual polite response to these questions is
Alkher ghas,
or "In health only." Exchanging gifts is an important
sign of friendship between women.
The Tuareg in rural areas still recognize social categories from the
time before colonization. These are based on family descent and
inherited occupation. For example,
(nobles) refers to Tuareg of noble birth, while
refers to the smiths and artisans. In principle, people are supposed to
marry within their own social category. However, this practice has been
breaking down for some time, especially in the towns.
9 o LIVING CONDITIONS
Compounds in the less nomadic rural communities may include several
tents and a few cone-shaped grass buildings. Some of the wealthier
Tuareg who have settled in oasis areas have adobe houses.
Since the early 1960s, when independent states were established in their
regions, the Tuareg have lost economic power. They tend to be
underrepresented in city and town jobs, including government positions.
In rural areas, their once-strong local economy has been weakened by
drought and by the decreasing value of livestock and salt.
10 o FAMILY LIFE
In rural communities, a nuclear family (parents and their children) live
in each tent or compound (living area). Each compound is named for the
married woman who owns the tent. She may make her husband leave the tent
if she divorces him.
Fathers are the disciplinarians of the family. But other men, especially
maternal uncles (uncles on the mother's side), often play and
joke with small children. Grandmothers also have a close, affectionate
relationship with the children. Cousins have a relaxed relationship
marked by teasing and joking. Relationships with in-laws are reserved,
distant, and respectful.
Traditionally, the Tuareg have married within their own social category,
preferably to a close cousin. In the towns, both of these traditions are
breaking down. In rural areas, they remain strong. However, many
individuals marry close relatives only to please their mothers. Later
they divorce and marry nonrelatives. Some wealthy Tuareg men practice
polygamy (having more than one wife at the same time).
Two-thirds of a family's property goes to the sons as an
one-third, to the
daughters. A political office usually passes from father to son.
Women who lack daughters of their own often adopt nieces to help with
the housework.
11 o CLOTHING
The veil that Tuareg men wear on their faces has several meanings. It
is, first of all, a symbol of male identity. It is also thought to
protect the wearer from evil spirits. In addition, it is considered an
attractive adornment and can be worn in various styles. The face veil is
worn differently in different social situations. It is worn highest
(covering the nose and mouth) to express respect in the presence of
chiefs, older persons, and in-laws.
Once they marry, Tuareg women wear a head scarf that covers their hair.
In rural areas, Tuareg men wear long Islamic robes. Women wear
wraparound skirts and embroidered blouses. In the towns, clothing is
more varied. It includes West African tie-dyed cottons, and also
fashionable European styles for some wealthier people.
Almost 95 percent of the daily diet in rural areas consists of grains.
Protein is added by dairy products (milk and cheese). Fruits such as
dates and melon are eaten in season.
Dried and pounded vegetables are added to sauces. Meat is eaten
primarily on holidays and at rites of passage.
A very sweet, thick beverage called
is also consumed on special occasions. It consists of pounded millet,
dates, and goat cheese mixed with water, and it is eaten with a ladle.
In the towns, the diet is slightly more varied. However, it still
consists mostly of nonmeat protein. Along the Niger River, some fish are
caught and added to the diet.
13 o EDUCATION
Until recently, many Tuareg resisted sending their children to secular
(nonreligious) schools because they did not like or trust the
government. Nowadays, however, more Tuareg recognize the importance of
formal education. Most rural residents finish at least primary school.
Some continue on to junior and senior high schools in the towns. Very
few Tuareg attend universities.
Koranic (Islamic) schools are important and respected among the Tuareg.
14 o CULTURAL HERITAGE
Music and poetry are of great importance during courtship, rites of
passage, and festivals. Distinctive styles of music and dance are
associated with various social classes. Sacred music is performed on
Muslim holidays. Secular music is performed on instruments including the
(a bowed, one-stringed lute) and the
15 o EMPLOYMENT
Most camel herding and all caravan trade are still done by men. Men
plant and irrigate gardens, and women harvest the crops.
Because of natural disasters and political tensions, it is difficult to
make a living only from nomadic herding. Most rural Tuareg today combine
different occupations, including herding, oasis gardening, caravan
trading, and migrant labor. Others produce arts and crafts for the
tourist trade or work as security guards in the towns. In the towns, a
few Tuareg have become businessmen or teachers.
16 o SPORTS
In the countryside, most everyday occupations involve hard physical
labor. The Western concept of "exercise" as a separate
category does not exist.
In the towns, there are organized athletics at schools, including soccer
and racing. There is also traditional wrestling.
17 o RECREATION
In the towns, television, films, parades, and culture centers offer
entertainment. Films from India and China are popular.
In the countryside, most residents provide their own entertainment.
Children make their own dolls and other toys. Adults dance, sing, and
play musical instruments at festivals. In addition, people of all ages
play board games with stones and date pits.
Some newspapers and magazines are available.
18 o CRAFTS AND HOBBIES
Tuareg crafts consist mainly of metalworking (silver jewelry), leather
working (boxes and saddles for camels), and woodworking (delicately
decorated spoons and ladles).
19 o SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Development programs from the 1940s into the 1970s failed to help the
Tuareg because the programs worked against their traditional herding
patterns. Between 1991 and 1995, Tuareg who had received military
training and arms in Libya carried out a separatist rebellion. They
demanded the right to rule their own region. Since that time, there has
been continued off-and-on fighting in some regions of Mali and Niger.
Some of the Tuareg have been forced into refugee camps.
20 o BIBLIOGRAPHY
Clarke, Thurston.
The Last Caravan.
New York: Putnam, 1977
Nicolaisen, Johannes, and Ida Nicolaisen.
The Pastoral Tuareg: Ecology, Culture and Society.
New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997.
Rochegude, Anne.
Tarlift, Tuareg Boy: My Village in the Sahara.
Translated and adapted by Bridget Daly. Morristown, N.J.: Silver
Burdett, 1985.
World Travel Guide. Niger. [Online] Available
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