Tuareg

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The Tuareg (sometimes spelled Touareg in French, or Twareg in English) are a Berber ethnic group or nation. Tuareg is a name that became applied to them by early explorers and historians, but they call themselves variously, Kel Tamasheq, Kel Tamajaq ("speakers of Tamasheq"), Imouhar, Imuhagh, Imazaghan, or Imashaghen ("the free"). The Tuareg people also identify themselves with the concept Tamust, 'The Nation'. The meaning of the word Tuareg has been long discussed. It may have come from a Libyan region known today as Fezzan, but once called Targa. The Arabic word "Targui", for Tuareg, may have derived from the Targa valley, the main city Ubari west of Sebha. Alternatively, Tuareg may have come from a Bedouin pronunciation of the Arabic Tawariq ("abandoned by God", singular Tarqi). The Tuareg today are found mostly in West Africa, but, like many in Northern Africa, were once nomads throughout the Sahara.

Related Topics:
Berber - Ethnic group - Nation - Tamust - Libya - Fezzan - Targa - Ubari - Sebha - Bedouin - Arabic - West Africa - Nomad - Sahara

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