HÊLÎN GEMO

News Center- The Tuareg people are a large Berber ethnic group that lives in some African countries such as Algeria, Northern Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Western Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Northern Niger.  The first settlement of the Tuaregs, who have preserved their culture in the Sahara for thousands of years, was the north of Africa but they moved from there to south, the Sahara region, due to oppressive armies such as the Romans and Persians. In their culture, women are respected and they are sacred to them.

The Tuaregs are the second generation of the Sanhaja tribe, once one of the largest Berber tribal confederations. Their ancestors founded the Islamic Kingdom of Odogst and the Germanic state. The Germanic civilization, the ancestor of the Tuareg people, is written as the first civilization in history, according to some historical documents. Some Germanic people migrated to the Nile Valley in the east, some to Mesopotamia and some to Greece.

The Tuareg people are known as “free people”

There are many documents claim that the Tuareg people are originally from a Berber tribe known as Sanhaja tribe but old people claim that the Tuareg people migrated to Africa after the collapse of Marib Dam in Yemen while some of the Tuareg people claim that their ancestors were Prophet Mohammad, Abu Bakr Siddiq or Omar ibn al-Khattab. The Tuaregs are known as Berber or Free Tuaregs.

Lives of the Tuareg people

In ancient times, the Tuareg people used to live in tents made of leather, straw or reed. But now, most of them live in some cities of Libya, Algeria, Niger and Burkina Faso. have been called the “blue people” for the indigo dye coloured clothes they traditionally wear and which stains their skin. They speak languages of the same name which belong to the Berber branch of the Afroasiatic family. They are a semi-nomadic people who practice Islam.

The prominent roles of Tuareg women

In the Tuareg society, women play prominent roles. They are leaders of their society and family. Women are respected and they are sacred to the culture of Tuareg society. Tuareg culture is largely matrilineal. In Tuareg society, women do not wear the veil, while men do. Tuareg women are considered one of the freest women in the world. The culture is one that places immense power in the hands of its women. Upon divorce, the women keep all their possessions including the children and tent, and men move out of the house. Women can initiate the processes that lead to divorce. In society, divorce is not a stigma or shame. Women own the homes and the animals. Women play an important role as external but important influences in political discussions because men consult with their wives and mothers before taking political decisions.