Tuareg and Amazigh jewelry

The Tuareg of the Sahara and the Amazigh (Berber) of North Africa share a long tradition of silver jewelry. Their jewels are savings, dowry, ornament and protection against evil all at once.

Who and where #

The Tuareg live in the Sahara and the Sahel (Niger, Mali, Algeria, Libya and Burkina Faso). Among them, silver is traditionally worked in the workshops of the inadan, artisan smiths and silversmiths. The Amazigh live in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and other parts of the Maghreb.

Materials and techniques #

• Silver, often recycled from jewelry and coins.
• Amber, coral and glass and carnelian beads.
• Colored enamel: the enameled jewelry of Kabylia (Algeria) is famous.
• Mold casting, hammering, openwork and filigree.

Traditional pieces and their meaning #

• Agadez crosses: silver crosses from Niger, with different variants by region; they are usually read as protection and as a reference to the cardinal directions.
• Fibulae: large triangular brooches that fastened the clothing of Amazigh women.
• Hand of Fatima (khamsa): a hand-shaped amulet that protects against the evil eye.
• Amber, coral and silver necklaces: dowry and status jewelry.

The tradition today #

In many communities, jewelry serves as family wealth passed from mother to daughter. Today cooperatives and artisans keep the techniques alive and reinterpret the designs. It is worth asking about the origin of pieces and not confusing antiques with reproductions.

See also #

• Silver
• Amber
• Coral
• Enamel
• Symbols in traditional jewelry and their meaning