Thread by @amezyane34

The Touareg Amazigh people of the Sahara/Sahel.
Who are they?
#Amazigh #Touareg #Algeria #Libya #Tunisia #Mali #Niger #Azawad #Agadez

They are an Amazigh (berber) people who live mostly an nomadic live in the Sahara/Sahel in different countries but in the same region. [it still North Africa and not sub Sahara Africa!]

For years are the Touareg people in North Mali/North Niger fighting for independence.
The Azawad(North Mali) is a big succes. The noble men liberated and control mostly everything above the Niger River. The independent movement is called #MNLA with leader Bilal Ag Acherif

The Ikelan are the so called black ‘Touaregs’ indeed they’re not Touaregs but descents of their previous slaves who were freed by the French. These so called black Ikelan adopted the Touareg language & culture and are part of their society & are still a minority they make up 10%

{Caste system} 1/3
The Tuareg people have in the past had a highly socially stratified society, with specific social roles (warriors, religious leaders) or professions (blacksmiths, farmers, merchants) assigned to specific castes.

{Caste system} 2/3
The aristocratic caste of warrior elite which sat atop pyramid of Tuareg society was decimated during the wars of the colonial period, with economic necessity, post-colonial border restrictions &modern education, have broken down many traditional caste barriers

{Caste system} 3/3
Tuareg higher caste traditions value a nomadic life, warfare, study, animal husbandry, and trade. Consequently, Higher caste communities travel, at least seasonally, if able. Lowest caste groups like Black Ikelan are more likely to live in settled communities.

There are between 5-6 million Touaregs.
3 million in Agadez(north Niger🇳🇪)
1 Million in Azawad(North Mali🇲🇱)
500k in South Algeria🇩🇿
300k in South-West Libya🇱🇾
200k in North Burkina Faso🇧🇫
50k in deep souther Tunisia🇹🇳
30k in tip North Nigeria🇳🇬