Book

Ecology and culture of the pastoral Tuareg: with particular reference to the Tuareg of Ahaggar and Ayr

The National Museum of CopenhagenCopenhagen • Published In 1963 • Pages: xvi, 540

By: Nicolaisen, Johannes.

Abstract
The author, a Danish ethnologist, spent nearly 2 1/2 years among the Tuareg during the course of 6 field trips spread over a ten-year period. His most concentrated period of field work was for 14 months in 1954-55. From 8 to 10 months was spent among the Southern Tuareg, mainly with the Kel Ayr, while the remainder of the time was spent among the Northern Tuareg, mainly with the Kel Ahaggar. The monograph focuses upon ecological adaptations, subsistence economy and technology, and general material culture, while a shorter but very interesting section is devoted to sociopolitical organization and kinship. Throughout, the author combines historical and functional approaches in an attempt to analyze Tuareg culture in historical perspective, and especially to trace the impact of Arab Islamic influences upon the traditional culture. Some of these data have already been reported in previous articles (cf. this collection, document no. 5)The researcher should be especially cautious when reading the section on political organization, because some of the terminology used by Nicolaisen may be quite misleading, and required special marking decisions. This is particularly true of the social units which he calls 'tribes'; according to his description of these units they seem to match most closely the <highlight rend="underline">OCM</highlight> definition of sibs, and have thus been indexed for CLANS. In fact, in Nicolaisen's previous article referred to above, he uses the term 'clans' rather than 'tribes' for these units, and also gives the pertinent Tuareg term <highlight rend="underline">taousit</highlight>, which seems to be omitted from this book. Correlatively, the subdivisions of 'tribes' which Nicolaisen calls 'sections' have been indexed for LINEAGES, as have the subdivisions of these 'sections' which he does call lineages.There are two other special marking decisions of particular importance. The most significant and permanent political unit among the Tuareg, namely the drum-group (<highlight rend="underline">ettebel</highlight>; pl. <highlight rend="underline">ettegelen</highlight>), has been indexed for DISTRICTS Usually, several drum-groups are allied to compose a larger political federation such as that of the Kel Ahaggar and the Kel Ayr. These represent the highest level of political integration among the Tuareg, although their significance is relatively minor, and they have been indexed for FORMS AND RULES OF GOVERNMENT. However, when the drum-group is a politically independent unit, as is the case with the Kel Geres and the Kel Adrar, it has been indexeded for FORMS AND RULES OF GOVERNMENT.For further information and commentary on this source, the researcher may consult the highly commendatory review by Robert F. Murphy in the <highlight rend="underline">American Anthropologist</highlight> 68: 554-56 (1966), and especially the detailed review article by Gast in <highlight rend="underline">Libyca</highlight> 12: 335-341 (1964).
Subjects
Ethos
Cultural identity and pride
Cultural participation
Pastoral activities
Functional and adaptational interpretations
Community structure
Form and rules of government
Kin relationships
Lineages
Localized kin groups
Territorial hierarchy
Historical reconstruction
General character of religion
External relations
culture
Tuareg
HRAF PubDate
2010
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Northern Africa
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Amal Vinogradov ; Robert O. Lagacé ; 1965-67
Field Date
1951-1962
Coverage Date
1800-1963
Coverage Place
Niger and Algeria
Notes
Johannes Nicolaisen
Summary in Danish
Thesis--Copenhagen
Includes bibliographical references (p. 499-516)
LCCN
64005718
LCSH
Tuaregs