{"id":35552,"date":"2021-11-07T10:23:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-07T10:23:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jazairhope.org\/?p=35552"},"modified":"2021-11-07T10:23:11","modified_gmt":"2021-11-07T10:23:11","slug":"the-tuareg-and-their-utensils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jazairhope.org\/en\/the-tuareg-and-their-utensils\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tuareg and their utensils"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Published: Sep 27, 2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Text: Ruth Walleyn – Photography: Griet Hendrick<\/div>\n

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\"<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\nDuring various\u00a0travels through Africa we have pieced together a beautiful\u00a0collection of utensils and tools used by the\u00a0Tuareg<\/strong>\u00a0tribe. All unique pieces telling a true story. But who are these mysterious nomads whom have lived in the Sahara for centuries and inspire and excite our curiosity and imagination.<\/p>\n

B<\/strong>lue men, indigo and Inadan<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Tuaregs are best\u00a0known for their\u00a0indigo<\/strong>\u00a0veils worn by the men.\u00a0They\u00a0cover their faces at puberty and will keep them covered\u00a0 in front of their elders and most women. The traditional face veil is dyed\u00a0with natural indigo, which stains their skin and leads to the name\u00a0\u2018Blue men of the Sahara\u2019\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0\u2018Men of the Veil\u2019.\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u201cIT WOULD BE AS DISHONOURABLE FOR A MAN\u00a0NOT TO WEAR HIS VEIL AS NOT WEARING HIS PANTS.\u201d CHARLERS DE FOUCAULT<\/p>\n


\nFor centuries they controlled the caravan routes through the desert. They played a large role in the slave trade and were active in trading salt, dates, saffron, gold and glass. Tuareg men enjoy a warrior reputation and traditional societies are based on a system of castes.<\/span>\u201cIT WOULD BE AS DISHONOURABLE FOR A MAN\u00a0NOT TO WEAR HIS VEIL AS NOT WEARING HIS PANTS.\u201d CHARLERS DE FOUCAULT<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The\u00a0\u2018Inadan\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0is a caste\u00a0of artists and smiths living at the bottom of society. Inadan is\u00a0a closed caste, someone is\u00a0born as an artisan but can never become one. They believe that the craft\u00a0is in one\u2019s blood and no one outside the family may venture to work. Their most prestigious work is considered to be a leathern decorated dromedary saddle.<\/p>\n

After leather, wood is perhaps\u00a0the most important material in Saharan daily life. Wood is cherished in harsh environments such as the Sahara . It is used in a number of utensils from bowls to tent poles.<\/p>\n

N<\/strong>omads, camels and luggage carriers<\/b><\/strong><\/h1>\n

The Tuaregs have survived in the harsh Saharan environment for thousands of years and consider it to be\u00a0home. Freedom comes first above all, they go wherever and whenever they choose. They aren\u2019t influenced by boarders nor passports and travel across countries\u00a0with their trusted camels.<\/p>\n

They transport their tents with a sedan chair\u00a0which they place on their camels. A sedan\u00a0chair is formed from 4 wooden sticks,\u00a0\u2018ame ssaggab<\/strong>\u2019<\/u><\/i>, which are attached with crossbars using either goat or camel leather. In this\u00a0chair,\u00a0the woman of the house\u00a0sits together\u00a0with the small children and lambs.<\/p>\n

Within the camp\u00a0it is turned upside down and acts as a table\u00a0or to store personal items.<\/p>\n

The 4 wooden sticks of each chair\u00a0are engraved with simple geometric motifs making them unique collector\u2019s items for in your house.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

T<\/strong>uareg women, tents and pickets<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Behind the simple traditions of the Tuareg hides a progressive culture which makes us\u00a0as westerner\u2019s blush. The Tuareg women may have multiple sexual partners before marriage, as long as it is done discretely. She doens\u2019t have to wear\u00a0a veil and has ownership of the tent and cattle. If a\u00a0married couple gets divorced the husband not only loses his wife but also the tent and his accommodation. Women are respected by men and their\u00a0opinions are highly valued.<\/p>\n

The mother\u2019s tent is\u00a0the heart of the family. It is made of a traditional wooden structure, old pieces of clothing, linen and goat skin mats which are sown together. The tent is anchored into the sand with tent pickets. Each picket has its own unique\u00a0design and function.<\/p>\n

4\u00a0\u2018<\/em><\/strong>Ehe<\/em><\/strong>l<\/em><\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0pickets are placed inside the tent to hold the wall mats,\u00a0\u2018eseber\u2019<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0in place. These mats are placed around the bed to create a form of privacy.<\/p>\n

In addition, forked supports\u00a0\u2018tigettewin’<\/u>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>are used to hang clothes and leather bags on or as an extra support\u00a0for a separate bar which carries\u00a0a camel saddle.<\/p>\n

The entrance to the tent is carried by a pair of pickets,\u00a0\u2018Igem<\/u><\/em>\u2019<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0that match\u00a0together.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

All these beautiful tools are made from extremely hard wood and are decorated with geometric abstract designs, the typical Tuareg signature. We are absolutely fond of their simplicity, unique\u00a0details and naturally warm colours.<\/p>\n

M<\/strong>illet, Jacks and Gourds<\/b><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once a week the villages in the Southern Sahara come to life on the local markets. The camels wheedle themselves in the sand while negotiations are done with humor. The caravans from the North show their goods. Salt and dates are exchanged for millet.<\/p>\n

Millets have been important food staples in human history, particularly in Asia and Africa and still forms the staple diet\u00a0for the caravaneer\u2019s family. A\u00a0gourd<\/strong>\u00a0is used to clean the grain before grinding it\u00a0into flour in a\u00a0wooden mortar<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mashed millet together with dates, cheese and water are the ingredients of the traditional recipe \u2018eghajira\u2019.\u00a0<\/i>We already have an big\u00a0collection of these lovely big wooden mortars.\u00a0Outside we use them as flowerpots, while inside they become a piece of art.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Each of these unique items reflect the beauty of this fascinating tribe. They make us dream from fareway places where the wind and the sand blow away the tracks of its visitors. Where under the sweltering sun one of Africa\u2019s last nomadic\u00a0society fights for their survival. Where with love, dedication and craftsmanship unique objects are made that decorate our houses. And where we ourselves hope to one day wander around in an indigo veil as well.<\/p>\n

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