An afternoon with dance-loving Tuareg women

It was a memorable encounter meeting Tuareg women in Sokoto who have great passion for singing and dancing. They were many and did not only speak on their passion, but demonstrated how a typical Tuareg dance is done. They mainly migrate from various towns and villages in Niger Republic to find a home in northern […]

It was a memorable encounter meeting Tuareg women in Sokoto who have great passion for singing and dancing. They were many and did not only speak on their passion, but demonstrated how a typical Tuareg dance is done. They mainly migrate from various towns and villages in Niger Republic to find a home in northern parts of Nigeria where they camp, mostly on farms on the outskirts of towns and cities.
The Tuaregs are skilled in the making of tents and other makeshift structures, live with their women and children in open fields defying weather conditions, yet they look contented as they go about their peculiar life. Next to their camels, singing and dancing has remained part of the Tuareg’s life, especially their men, many of whom are pastoral nomads.
There is no life among Tuareg without singing and dancing, they say. In farms on the outskirts of Sokoto, particularly at Tudun More Tuareg community, brings one closer to the type of life they live and how much they cherish the art of singing and dancing.
A woman leader of the community, Salamatu, had a lot to say on how much singing and dancing influences their social and cultural setting at home and elsewhere. Salamatu said they (Tuaregs) organize entertainments in form of singing and dancing, during occasions such as harvest, weddings, naming ceremonies and muslim sallah celebrations.
“We usually start singing and dancing at about 4:00 pm on a particular day and continue until about 1:00am, with few breaks for prayer and refreshments.
“A typical male and female Tuareg can start singing and dancing at an early age by watching the elder ones on stage. At six to seven years, they can participate fully,” she said, intimating that both male and female Tuaregs can sing and dance during such special occasions, collectively or otherwise. Sometimes, it’s in a mixed setting with husbands and wives, but no one can come closer to a woman who is not his wife.
The dances are of different kinds, namely Tande, Singa and Abawul. Also, while they perform, they wear specific attires, such as Tekatkat, a gown, Alesho, headtie and Teri, a type of wrapper. Again, they have particular fancy for black colours and so are mostly clad in black-coloured outfits.
During each singing and dancing outings, they recognise and reward the best among them. So champions are celebrated like in any other sport. Special gifts given include animals, fabric and money. Age is not considered during such events and any dancer, if skillful, can be rewarded.