Igdalen people
Encyclopedia
The Igdalen are a Berber people living in northwestern Niger
and parts of Mali
and Algeria
. They speak Tagdal, a Mixed-Berber or Northern Songhai language. The Igdalen are closely related to Idaksahak people
of eastern Mali
and the Isawaghan of Ingal in Niger, with whom they share very similar language. Culturally, the Igdalen are often considered a Tuareg faction. In the past they have formed a sub-confederation with the Kel Fadey, Kel Ferwan
and others in the Kel Ayr
Tuareg confederation or Drum Group.
There are an estimated 27,000 Igdalen, and are centered around Tanout
and Tchin Tabaraden in northern Niger, although seasonal transhumance with livestock take them well north and south. Igdalen are Muslim
, and have previously been a Marabout
(religious) and herding caste within Tuareg society.
The Igdalen do not form a single political or tribal group, but factions are through recent history attached to at least two aristocratic Tuareg tribes. These include the Kel Ferwan
Immuzurag and Ikherkheren. In the Ingal area, the Igdalen are divided into two additional tribes, the Kel Tofey and the Kel Amdit.
The Igdalen are believed to have been among the first Berber people to move into the area, before large Tuareg groups migrated from the 11th to the 16th centuries CE. It is believed that Igdalen came to the Niger river valley from Morocco by the 11th century, moving up towards the Air Mountains
.
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
and parts of Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
and Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. They speak Tagdal, a Mixed-Berber or Northern Songhai language. The Igdalen are closely related to Idaksahak people
Idaksahak people
The Dawsahak people, Idaksahak are pastoralist Berbers centered around Menaka and Inékar town in Menaka Cercle and Talataye in Ansongo Cercle of the Gao Region of northeastern Mali. They speak the Northern Songhai-derived language Tadaksahak...
of eastern Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
and the Isawaghan of Ingal in Niger, with whom they share very similar language. Culturally, the Igdalen are often considered a Tuareg faction. In the past they have formed a sub-confederation with the Kel Fadey, Kel Ferwan
Kel Ferwan
The Kel Ferwan are a Tuareg nomadic clan, who have historically been a sub group of the Kel Ayr confederation. In the 20th century, they have mostly been based in the Air Mountains of north central Niger....
and others in the Kel Ayr
Kel Ayr
Kel Ayr were a semi-nomadic Tuareg tribal confederation which ruled an area centered on the Aïr Mountains in what is today Niger....
Tuareg confederation or Drum Group.
There are an estimated 27,000 Igdalen, and are centered around Tanout
Tanout
Tanout is a town in southern Niger. It is in Zinder Region, Tanout Department, north of the city of Zinder. It is the administrative capital of Tanout Department....
and Tchin Tabaraden in northern Niger, although seasonal transhumance with livestock take them well north and south. Igdalen are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, and have previously been a Marabout
Marabout
A marabout is a Muslim religious leader and teacher in West Africa, and in the Maghreb. The marabout is often a scholar of the Qur'an, or religious teacher. Others may be wandering holy men who survive on alms, Sufi Murshids , or leaders of religious communities...
(religious) and herding caste within Tuareg society.
The Igdalen do not form a single political or tribal group, but factions are through recent history attached to at least two aristocratic Tuareg tribes. These include the Kel Ferwan
Kel Ferwan
The Kel Ferwan are a Tuareg nomadic clan, who have historically been a sub group of the Kel Ayr confederation. In the 20th century, they have mostly been based in the Air Mountains of north central Niger....
Immuzurag and Ikherkheren. In the Ingal area, the Igdalen are divided into two additional tribes, the Kel Tofey and the Kel Amdit.
The Igdalen are believed to have been among the first Berber people to move into the area, before large Tuareg groups migrated from the 11th to the 16th centuries CE. It is believed that Igdalen came to the Niger river valley from Morocco by the 11th century, moving up towards the Air Mountains
Aïr Mountains
The Aïr Mountains is a triangular massif, located in northern Niger, within the Sahara desert...
.