M. El-zwail
Tuareg, Traces of
Culture and Fading
Identity
Moammer M. El-zwail
Dr. Tom Sloane
English Writing Course
24 June 2007
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M. El-zwail
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Moammer El-zwail
Dr. Tom Sloane
English Writing Course
June 24, 2007
Tuareg, Traces of Culture and Fading Identity
During my six years of tour-guiding all over Libya, I was always fascinated by the Tuareg
tribes, and so were my tourist groups. I was, and still am, fascinated by their imposing traditional
look, their ritual and traditions held in social occasions and holidays and most of all their values
and ethics. Something else about them enthralled me, their determination to keep their identity and
carry on all their distinctive rituals and ceremonies. Nowadays this determination seems to die
away among the young generation with all the modern style of life they are embracing, and it
seems to me that the whole being of their civilization, on every dimension, is fading away and it’s
walking on the edge. This concept came to my mind because I notice some gradual changes in
their culture and life style every time I visit them with my groups.
Background on the Tuareg Culture
To put you on the spot I would like to set up in kind of descriptive way a typical Tuareg
community and the layout of some aspects in their life style.
The Tuareg are Berber ethnic, semi-nomadic people, meaning that they travel with their herds on a
seasonal basis but also have a home area where they grow some food crops. They live in the
Northwest of the Sahara desert in scattered communities in Algeria, Libya, Niger, Mali and Burkina
Faso.
The origin of the name Tuareg is properly derived from their ancient capital, Targa, in the Libyan
Desert; Tuareg in Arabic means: “The Inhabitants of Targa”. But they call themselves various names
start with “Kel” which means: “those who …” Kel Tamasheq “those who speak Tamasheq” and Kel
Tagelmust “those who wear veil”, and they also call themselves Imashagen
“the free people” (Berber). They sometimes referred to as “Blue Men of the
desert” because their robes are dyed indigo blue.
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Political Systems and Lifestyle: Although the Tuareg are primarily tribal system, there are seven
main confederations that bear names related to their geographical locations. These confederations are
spread all over the Northwest of the Sahara. Every one of these confederation contains a number of
smaller units or tribes and every tribe generally divided into four social classes. Nobles own land and
camels, and rule the confederations or political alliances. Vassals farm and graze their herds on land
managed by nobles. Scholars and religious leaders offer guidance. Finally, an outcast group of
artisans and blacksmiths who work with metals, making all the tools and ornaments, including camel
gear, amulets, jewelry, weapons and most household items.(Tour). Every community is ruled by an
Amenokal, the chief of the tribe who hold supreme political and judicial authority in the tribe, and he
have to regulate all relations between nobles and vassals within that tribe. However, in his national
role regarding to issues with neighbor tribes, the Amenokal doesn’t have a full authority to decide; his
decision has to be approved by a committee of notables called the arollan.The chief is supposed to be
a male, but is hereditary through the female line from the
mother side.
Culture and Beliefs: The Tuareg are matrilineal, though not
matriarchal which is clearly depicted when they assign the
successor to the present Chief, Amenokal, from his mother not
father side also among the community the social status
depends on matrilineal descent. That shows their respect and
values towards women who don’t wear veil but only and
partially cover their heads; women also owns the family
dwelling either a tent or mud-brick house and she has the right to keep it if she was divorced.
The most distinctive Tuareg symbol is the Tagelmust, an often blue indigo veil. It is originated
from the belief that wearing veil protects them from evil spirits, but most probably relates to
protection against the harsh desert sands. Self-respecting Tuareg think it is shockingly indecent for a
man to show his face to anyone whose social standing is superior to his own. Nowadays young
generation not only reveal their faces but also wear stylish caps.
Tuareg are a proud people, famous for their fighting abilities and artwork; the sword is a Tuareg's
most valued possession. Many swords are passed from generation to generation and said to be
protected by the victories of its past owners. Tuareg attitudes to etiquette are not easily described in
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words, for gait, gestures and postures all express qualities of elegance, arrogance, refinement and
strength. The Tuareg have been mostly Muslim since the 16th century. They combine Sunni Islam
with traces of pre-Islamic beliefs which somehow have a link to magical powers, including spirits of
nature (Kel Asuf). Rituals and ceremonies among the Tuareg are usually held at the various rites of
passage such as namedays, weddings, and funeral feasts as well as Islamic holidays.
Language and Script: One of the most amazing facts about the Tuareg that their language,
Tamasheq, is the oldest still used language all over the globe, with its ancient still used script,
Tifinaagh. Tamasheq is an ancient Libyan origin, southern Berber language having different
dialects among the Tuareg various regions and it’s believed to be derived from an Afro-Asiatic
origin closely related to Pharaohnic and Semitic. Tifinagh script appears on the Saharan carvings
and work arts which are believed by the archeologists to be prehistoric carvings (Ager).
Tuareg also speaks some other African languages such as Hausa, Songhay and Arabic. They
fluently speak French
Economy: For thousands of years, Tuareg economy revolved around trans-Saharan trade. There
are basically five trade routes which extend across the Sahara from the northern Mediterranean
coast of Africa to the great cities on the southern edge of the Sahara. Tuareg merchants were
responsible for bringing goods from these cities to the north. The Tuareg are excellent craftsmen
renowned for their indigo cloth, gold and silver jewelry and carved wooden masks.
Recently the Tuareg have been abandoning their nomadic way of life and take up sedentary lifestyles
and started raising and breading animals and planting vegetables on the oases areas and some of them
became blacksmiths and handcrafts makers. Drought and government policy are threatening their
traditional way of life and limiting their nomadic behavior as it is mentioned in the “Prayer Profile”:
Over a period of years, the colonial powers imposed a series of conventions regulating and
limiting nomadic movements to specific territories for each federation, and post
independence frontiers further restricted movements. (Prayer)
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Although the Tuareg generally live on the products of their animals, owing to natural disasters and
political tensions, it is now extremely difficult to live in that environment only from livestock
breeding. Most rural Tuareg combine various methods, practicing herding, oasis planting, caravan
trading and migrant labor. The basic elements of their diet are milk, millet, and dates.
History: According to Herodotus, they are descendants of ancient Saharan peoples known as the
Garamentes who lived in the Libyan Desert in their empire, Garma. For over two thousand years,
The Tuareg suffered from many wars, first against the French invasion, Tuareg military potentials
were no match for the more advanced weapons of the French armies, and after numerous
massacres, the Tuareg were subdued and required to sign treaties with the French. Then fighting
their neighbor African groups for food and water resources during the years of drought, and the
last war was against the present governments in the countries they live in, to have their
independence as a nation.(Riboud)
The effective role of occupation and governments in diminishing this civilization is explained in
the “Tuareg, a Threaten People”:
The partition of the territory provoked the falling apart of families and Tuareg
confederations; the limitations of the borders destroyed completely the Tuareg society.
Forced to live in countries where they are not accepted, the Tuareg became marginalized on
the cultural, social and political level. The present situation of the Tuareg is the direct
result of this marginalization. For the last years, the Tuareg People went through the most
dramatic period of its history; it is threatened in its very existence by political factors
strengthening the already hard living conditions due to the climate, the dry periods and the
progress of the desert.
Since the independence, the governments of Mali and Niger marginalized even more the
Tuareg culture and population. (Tuareg, a Threatened People)
The Tuareg Civilization between Young and Old Generations
Based on my modest experience in the few hours I used to spend with the Tuareg during my tours
in the Libyan Desert I would like to outline the major issues of their struggle against the
civilization moral desertification. We often meet Tuareg I our tours, in their dwellings, travelling
through the desert, and sometimes we use them as guides and driver, though the latter ones are
living a modern life in the city.
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I managed to make friends with some of them, specially a young strong man named Omar Meghar.
He was energetic, active, funny and full of joy and laughter. His father, Meghar, was the
Amenokal, the chief, of his tribe once. He is a quite interesting character. He is serious, determine
and full of pride. Unlike his son he doesn’t like to speak too much and when he speaks he speaks
wisely, always knows what he is doing. Every time I meet I feel the essence of dignity, honor, and
self-confidence all around him. Although our topic of discussion tends to be the same every time
we meet, the plot of events was always different. It is all about how Tuareg seem to leave their
tribes and move to neighboring cities, Ghadamis, Ghat and Sebha not only move but also to lead
totally different lives ripping their roots of being Tuareg, taking off their descent veils and putting
on a modern clothes. Amenokal Meghar was extremely emotional in our last conversation because
his eldest son left the tribe and move to live in Ghadamis. He was not only his eldest but also his
first man and right hand in the tribe, who he always depend on in every difficult mission.
From Chief Meghar’s point of view and from some other Tuaregs viewpoints, I would like to
elaborate and comment on their perspectives and attitudes. Amenokal Meghar sees that Tuareg are
gradually losing their identity and dressing in a different ethos. Even though he is committed to his
traditions, way of dressing, rituals, beliefs and values, he seems to me an easy-going, open-minded and
friendly when it come to talk and mix with other people from different nations like he always does
with my tourists. He told me many times that he is not a die-hard old-fashioned kind of man, as the
young people talk of him; he is not against technology and modernization as long as they don’t rip off
our traditions beliefs and most of all who we are. He drives a 4WD car and use electricity and
submersible pumps to pump the water from the water well to a faucet nearby, but he insists to wear the
Tuareg indigo veil, Tagelmust, and traditional robe, ride his adorned camel once in a while and hold
weddings and all the other social occasions in the Tuareg traditional way (My interviews).
Two young men that I met in the Caravan Hotel in Ghadamis, told me that they were really
proud of being Tuareg, even though they don’t like Tuareg as they were wearing jeans and Tshirts. They said that they were keeping their ancient legacy by organizing festivals to exhibit all
the Tuareg clothes, tools, weapons and jewelry, and sometimes depicting scenes from the Tuareg
lifestyle. One of them said “It’s all history, man. We are proud of it but we don’t to keep living it
in a sort of status quo.”
“But you guys are over doing it.”I said “you are slipping out of your skin and dressing in a
different one throwing away all your ancestors values and beliefs, you don’t wear Tuareg clothes
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anymore not even in occasions, you speak less in Tamasheq and sometimes you don’t speak it for
weeks, you stopped celebrating Tuareg holidays or celebrating the other occasions like weddings,
births and naming days in the Tuareg traditional way.”. The other one answered “what the heck? I
only live once in this life and I will use every mean of comfort and technology to make it better.”
Then I thought “Do really all these means of technology make our life better? They make faster,
but they create more demands accelerating the rhythm of our daily life activities.” (My interviews)
Consequently of that thought, I had, and still have this wild idea of going back to the primitive life,
wear the veil and join Amenokal Meghar in his cause. Amenokal Meghar now is going to
Ghadamis and Gaht trying to persuade Tuareg, who live there to establish their own city, build
distinctive Tuareg communities and keep the entire Tuareg legacy alive.
Conclusion
Although I tried to be neutral in this issue, I found myself fallen into the trap of bias, as I totally
support Amenokal Meghar’s point of view. Voice deep inside me kept telling me that it’s ok to be
bias on the right side. Amenokal Meghar and some other chiefs are trying to reach to the UN to
help them in both levels politically and socially. Owing to this wave of new concepts and attitudes
among the new generations of Tuareg, it seems to me that the Tuareg civilization is threatened,
endangered and tending to diminish and eventually being items exhibited in museums in some of
the world capitals.
Out of his love to the nomadic travelling style of the Tuareg life, Amenokal Meghar told me once
“Houses are the graves of the living.”
Works Cited
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Ager, Smith. “Writing Systems and Languages of the World” Omniglot. (1998-2007)
http://www.omniglot.com/writing/tifinagh.htm
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“Berber Ethenic Groups” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 10 June 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuareg
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“Mauritania to Nigeria.” The World Cultures. 2007
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Tuareg.html
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My interviews and discussions with some Tuaregs I met in my tours.
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“Prayer Profile, the Tuareg” Bethany World Prayer Center.
http://www.global12project.com/2004/profiles/clusters/tuareg.html
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Riboud, Mark. Encyclopedia Britannica online. 2007 http://www.britannica.com/eb/article9073657/Tuareg
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“Tour the Exhibit.” Africa One Continent, Many Worlds
http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/africa/exhibit/sahara/tuareg/index.html
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“Tuaregs, a Threatened people.” Center of the World Indigenous Studies. 1999 <
http://www.cwis.org/fwdp/Africa/tuareg.txt
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