Why do Berbers wear blue?

The Tuareg are sometimes called the “Blue People” because the indigo pigment in the cloth of their traditional robes and turbans stained their skin dark blue. The traditional indigo turban is still preferred for celebrations, and generally Tuareg wear clothing and turbans in a variety of colors.

Why are Tuareg men veiled?

Tuareg men begin wearing a veil at age 25, which conceals their entire face excluding their eyes. This veil is never removed, even in front of family members. It is believed that men began wearing the veil to protect their faces from the Sahara sands.

Why are Tuaregs called blue men of the Sahara?

While the Haalpulaar might have established the indigo daraas, it was the Tuareg people who adopted and popularised the fashion, and are considered the “blue men of the Sahara” – a name they eventually got because the colour of their clothing rubbed off onto their skin while being under the hot sun.

Who is known as blue desert people?

Tuaregs are the famed “hommes bleus,” or “blue men,” desert nomads nicknamed after their dark-blue turbans. The color eventually rubs off onto their tan skin. In the 15th century, the Tuaregs attacked Timbuktu and have ruled it several times since then.

Why do Tuareg wear black?

Tuaregs wear blue-black dark clothing to absorb heat before it reaches their skin. Multiple layers prevent the outermost layer touching the skin as it may be heated by the sun due to the heat absorption of dark colours.

Why do the Tuareg wear blue veils?

Known as ‘the blue men of the Sahara’, the Tuareg men wear a blue Indigo veil to protect their faces from the dust whipped up by desert winds, which often leaves a blue mark on their skin. Women own the tents, considered the heart of the family, and the animals, which are also theirs to keep in case of divorce.

What do the Tuaregs call themselves?

The Tuareg call themselves the Imazghan, meaning “free people.” Today they are known for a distinctive dark blue turban worn by the men, and for their long history as gatekeepers of the Sahara Desert.

What makes the Tuareg unique?

The Tuareg are traditionally monogamous and have a matrilineal system of inheritance. In this they differ sharply from their Berber kinsmen, the Arabs, and most other sub-Saharan peoples. Most Tuaregs of the Azawak have retained a fully nomadic existence and herd cattle, camels, goats, and sheep.

Are Tuareg and Berber the same?

The Tuareg language is a southern Berber language having several dialects among the different regions. Berber is an Afro-Asiatic language closely related to Egyptian and Semitic-Canaanite languages.

What colour do Bedouins wear?

It seems likely that the present inhabitants of the Sinai, the Bedouins, would have optimised their solutions for desert survival during their long tenure in this desert Yet, one may have doubts on first encountering Bedouins wearing black robes and herding black goats.

Who are the blue people of the Sahara?

Nomadic ‘Blue Men’ Of Sahara Receive New Attention With Mali Fighting. Since the Libyan rebellion that ousted Moammar Qaddafi and the fighting in Mali, there has been occasional mention of the Tuareg. The nomadic people of the Sahara are sometimes called the “blue people” for the indigo color of their clothing.