From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Tuareg, known as the Kel Tamashek, Imouhar, or Imashagen ("the free") among themselves, and in Arabic as Tawariq ("abandoned by God", singular Tarqi), are an ethnic group currently found mostly in West Africa, but were once nomads throughout the Sahara. The word "Tuareg" is a Berber pronunciation of the Arabic "Tawariq".
| Total population: | Between 100,000 [1] and 3.5 Million [1] | |
| Significant populations in: |
These numbers are all estimates [1], and may exclude Tuaregs who are assimilated into the general population of these countries. Niger (1998): 720,000 Mali (1991): 440,000 Algeria (1987): 25,000 Burkina Faso (1991): 20-30,000 Libya (1993): 17,000 Nigeria: few Senegal: ? [1] | |
| Language |
Several of the Tamasheq languages. | |
| Related ethnic groups |
Berber others? | |
History and Geography
Descended from Berbers in the region that is now Libya, the Tuareg were an identifiable nomadic people in the Sahara at the time of Herodotus, who mentions them. Later, they expanded into the Sahel.
Tuareg merchants were long responsible for luxury trade and slave trade, connecting the great cities on the southern edge of the Sahara via five desert trade routes to the northern (Mediterranean) coast of Africa.
In the Nineteenth Century, they resisted French colonization of what is now Niger, signing a peace treaty only in 1917.
Their longstanding conflict with black Africans has been much exacerbated in the last century, as desertification has forced then steadily south in search of better supplies of water. Desertification has also caused a gradual abandonment of the nomadic life, as more Tuareg have become settled farmers or have moved into towns and cities.
In May 1990, in the aftermath of a clash outside a prison in Tchin-Tabaraden, Niger, Tuaregs in both Mali and Niger claimed autonomy for their regions. Deadly clashes with 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. However, as of 2000 little has been done to implement these measures in either country.
Culture
The Tuareg are matrilineal, though not matriarchal. Unlike many Moslem societies, the women do not traditionally wear the veil. Ironically, it is far more common and traditional for Tuareg men than women to cover their faces; the men's facial covering may originally be due to the practicalities of desert nomadism, or to issues of modesty or religion; in any event, it is a firmly established tradition (as is the wearing of amulets containing verses from the Koran). Men begin wearing a veil at age 25 which conceals their entire face excluding their eyes. This veil is never removed, even in front of family members.
[1], [1]
Traditionally, Tuareg society is hierarchal, with nobility and vassals; formerly, they also held slaves ("Iklan"), often Black African prisoners, darker than the generally light-skinned Tuareg. Traditionally, the traders had a higher status than their more settled compatriots to the south. With time, that difference has eroded, corresponding to the economic fortunes of the two groups.
Many Tuareg today are either settled agrulturalists or nomadic cattle breeders; there are also still blacksmiths, camel breeders, and caravan leaders.
The Tuareg are sometimes called the "blue people" because of the indigo color of their robes and turbans.
The Tuareg speak several related Berber languages or dialects, collectively known as the Tamasheq languages, and including Tamahaq, Tamasheq, Tayart Tamajeq, and Tawallammat Tamajeq. The Tamasheq writing system, Tifinagh, is the only original Berber script still in use.
Tuareg is also the title of a Spanish book written by Alberto Vázquez Figueroa.
Tuareg is also the brand name of a new Volkswagen car.Language
Religion
The Tuareg are predominantly Muslim, though lax in observance, more inclined to observe feasts than fasts. They combine Maliki Islam (based on the teachings of the 16th-century prophet, El Maghili) with certain pre-Islamic beliefs, such as the presence of spirits (djinns) and such syncretic beliefs as divination through means of the Koran. [1]Arts
Much Tuareg art is in the form of jewelry, leather and metal saddle decorations, and finely crafted swords. [1]Ethnic Classification
The Tuareg are closely related to both West Africans and North African Berbers. At least some sources argue that the Tuareg are defined by language, not ethnicity, and that Black African Tamasheq speakers qualify as "Tuareg" (and, presumably, by implication, individuals of Tuareg descent but who have assimilated into various countries and do not speak Tamasheq languages do not). (See, for example, [1]). This is probably part of the reason for the widely varying estimates of the number of Tuareg.References
