Tahaggart Tuareg in Algeria


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Tuaregs of Algeria are part of a larger group of Berber-speaking Tuaregs. They are nomads who raise cattle and live in an area that stretches across North Africa. This territory extends from Western Sahara to the northern portion of Western Sudan.
Although the origin and early history of the Tuaregs are cloudy, these tribal nomads appear to have traveled down from North Africa in a series of migrations as early as the 7th century. By the end of the 14th century, Tuareg tribes had established themselves as far south as the Nigerian border.
The chief characteristics of the Tuaregs include the unity of their language, their alphabet (which uses tifinagh characters), their complex social organization, and their class structure.
In direct contrast to Arab custom, the Tuareg men, rather than women, wear veils. However, many men often leave their faces uncovered in family camps or while traveling.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Tuaregs of Algeria primarily live in small nomadic groups. Their camps consist of five or six portable tents arranged in a tight circle. Each tent is made of 30 or 40 tanned skins that have been dyed red and sewn together. The skins are supported on a framework of wooden poles and pegged into the ground.
Each tribe is governed by a chief and an assembly of adult males. The tribes are grouped into three confederations, each with its own sheik and council of rulers. These three confederations are under the leadership of one paramount chief, called an amenokal, and a council of nobles. Succession to headship is matrilineal (passed down through the lineage of the women).
Tuareg society also has an elaborate structure. The main division is between the noble class and the various serf classes. In most Tuareg groups, there are also whole tribes of ineslemen or marabouts. These are "holy people" who, like other tribes, are led by their own chiefs. Among some of the Berbers, such tribes are different from ordinary men. They are believed to possess the powers of protection and healing, even after death.
The lowest class does both the manual and domestic labor. This class is made up of ethnically mixed peoples who live in a cooperative relationship with their masters, the Tuareg. Many were originally slaves, either taken during warfare or bought at Indonesian slave markets. Three slave groups in the lower class are the iklan, the inaden, and the harratin. The iklan take care of herding, cooking and other domestic chores. The inaden work as artisans and blacksmiths for the Tuaregs. The harratin are tenant farmers who work as sharecroppers. Sadly, the Tuaregs have very little respect for these groups.
The Tuaregs of Algeria are primarily shepherds. Each tribe holds collective property rights on special grazing grounds. They also do a small amount of farming on this land, using irrigation and hand-held hoes. Their main crop is wheat, but they also grow some barley and grain, dates, figs, apricots, grapes and several vegetables. Although they raise camels, donkeys, sheep, and goats, they only eat meat at feasts. Milk, both fresh and sour, is a staple food and is used to make butter and cheese.
Veils worn by the Tuareg men are called tidjelmoust. The most preferred veils are dyed indigo. To show respect, the men always cover their mouths, noses and foreheads in the presence of foreigners and their in-laws.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though the Tuaregs are virtually all Sunni Muslims, they have a reputation among other Muslims for being lukewarm in their faith. They practice a passive form of Islam, infused with folk beliefs and magic. Protective charms or amulets are commonly worn, and belief in spirits is widespread. There are several Marabouts (those of the "holy class") living among them, some of whom run Islamic schools.


What Are Their Needs?

There are so few Algerian Christ followers, that it will take a miracle or God to reach the Algerian Tuareg community. Who will go?


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send loving Christians from other parts of Africa to Algeria to share Jesus Christ with the Tuareg tribes.
Pray that God will open the hearts of Algeria's governmental leaders to the gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up a network of fellowships among the Tuareg tribes of Algeria.


Scripture Prayers for the Tuareg, Tahaggart in Algeria.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tuareg, Tahaggart
People Name in Country Tuareg, Tahaggart
Natural Name Tahaggart Tuareg
Alternate Names Ahaggaren; Gadames; Ghat; Ifora; Tamastairt; Tauareg; Touareg; Tuareg; Tuarek; Tuwareg; Twareg
Population this Country 74,000
Population all Countries 150,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 15608
ROP3 Code 110233
ROP25 Code 308321
ROP25 Name Tuareg
Country Algeria
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Mainly Tamanrasset province south to Niger border; also southeast of Illizi and Adrar provinces; South Hoggar (Ajjer) mountain area. Hoggar Ghat dialect in southeast, Ganet area and west.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Algeria
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 15  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Mainly Tamanrasset province south to Niger border; also southeast of Illizi and Adrar provinces; South Hoggar (Ajjer) mountain area. Hoggar Ghat dialect in southeast, Ganet area and west..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Tuareg, Tahaggart in Algeria Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Religion Subdivision: Sunni
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Tamahaq, Tahaggart (74,000 speakers)
Language Code thv   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tamahaq, Tahaggart (74,000 speakers)
Language Code thv   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tamahaq, Tahaggart

Primary Language:  Tamahaq, Tahaggart

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1922-2024)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamahaq, Tahaggart YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamahaq, Tahaggart YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Jacqueline Macou - Pixabay 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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