What is touareg jewelry?

Question

I've had this piece of gold jewelry for forty years given to me by someone in France with no story except that it had something todo with the crusades and a camel, saddle pommel. Recently I've been told it is a Moroccan touareg. I'd like to know more about the touareg.

Answer 1

Touareg are a Berber ethnic group or nation. Tuareg is a name that was applied to them by early explorers and historians (since Leo Africanus), but they call themselves variously Kel Tamasheq, Kel Tamajaq "Speakers of Tamasheq" and Imouhar, Imuhagh, Imazaghan or Imashaghen "the Free people". The Tuareg today are found mostly in West Africa, but, like many in Northern Africa, were once nomads throughout the Sahara. They have a little-used but ancient script known as the tifina.

Much Tuareg art is in the form of jewelery, leather and metal saddle decorations called 'Trik', and finely crafted swords. The Inadan community makes traditional handicrafts. Among their products are: Tanaghilt or Zakkat (the 'Agadez Cross' or 'Croix d'Agadez'); the Tuareg Takoba, a nearly one meter long sword, with red leather cover; many beautiful gold and silver-made necklaces called 'Takaza'; and earrings called 'Tizabaten'.

Answer 2

The Touaregs are nomads of Morocco. They wander in the Sahara. They are called so because of the blue coloured cloth they use for their turbans and clothes. They use the turbans to cover their faces in a sandstorm. All this I saw in the Lonely Planet. I recall about them using gems to adorn their swords, the women (a man had more than one wife) rarely wore jewelry other than brooches. That's it.