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Let’s travel through culture; that’s what we offer in this article about the nomads of the Moroccan desert, this mysterious people who continue to inhabit the Sahara today. The Sahrawi nomads of Morocco are Bedouins, therefore Arab nomads, but also Berbers, some of whom have settled down..
The inhabitants of the Sahara are commonly called ‘Tuaregs’. However, this name refers to the inhabitants of the desert in Mali, Niger, and Sudan. The Tuareg (Mali) were originally called the Tamasheq people, the veiled people or even free men The Tuareg and Sahrawi nomads are also calledblue men‘in reference to their indigo-colored clothing.
Who are the Sahrawi nomads in Morocco?
The Sahara is the largest hot desert in terms of its size. It spans the territory of 10 countries on the African continent: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Sudan, and Niger. The Tuareg and nomadic population in the Sahara is estimated at around 4 million people.
In Morocco, the Sahrawi nomads
formerly controlled the caravan trade between Morocco and Niger.
Over the past few decades, more and more nomads have settled
in oases, where they carry out some agricultural work. These nomads are
settled on the edge of the desert (for example, like in the village of M’hamid El
Ghizlane).
Nomads or ‘ the inhabitants of the desert In Morocco, like the Tuareg, they are primarily camel, goat, and sheep herders. Those Sahrawis who lead a nomadic life leave for the desert during the winter and return to its edge during the summer because of the intense heat. They are constantly on the move in search of pasture and live in traditional black tents woven from goat and camel hair. Conditions in the desert can seem harsh: hot and dry during the day and cold at night.
Where do the Sahrawi nomads live?
In Morocco, Sahrawi nomads live in the south of the country. Merzouga, M’hamid, Tata, Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Laâyoune, Western Sahara… you can encounter Sahrawi nomads in the southern Moroccan desert.
Language and culture
In Morocco, Sahrawi nomads speak Hassaniya. This dialect is also called ‘ Hassan ‘ is spoken in southern Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, northern Mali, and parts of Senegal. The culture of the Sahrawi nomads is characterized by solidarity, family spirit, and hospitality. The nomads lead a simple life..
Nomads love to gather for tea. Preparing and serving tea is a very special ritual for nomads. Tea is served and drunk regularly throughout the day. Pieces of ‘ sugarloaf Sometimes, desert plants are added.
In the evening, around the fire, in
While waiting for the meal cooking on the embers, they chat and play different games.
musical instruments. All the men gathered participate..
Sahrawi women
Sahrawi women weave the
They work with wool and take care of the house and children. They often get together.
to spend time together drinking traditional tea. The women
Sahrawi women wear the Malhfa, a colorful traditional garment with different
patterns. The Malhfa is a long piece of fabric with which nomadic women know
skillfully make themselves a garment that covers them from head to toe. This garment
It also allows women to keep half of their face covered. Women
Sahrawi women use kohl for their eyes and henna applied to their hands.
Men, on the other hand, wear
the traditional gandoura and a cheche.
The traditional cheche their
allows you to protect yourself from the sun and sand.
The Sahrawi nomads and their jewelry
The Southern Crosses
The Southern Cross, also known as the Cross of Agadez or Iferwan, is a symbol of virility and traditional nomadism. It was once worn exclusively by men and passed down from father to son at puberty. There are different Southern Crosses, each associated with a village or nomadic tribe. The cross represents the pommel of a camel’s saddle or the four cardinal directions. The transmission of the jewel is a traditional practice where the father recites the timeless phrase to his son:My son, I give you the four directions of the world, for we do not know where you will die.‘.
Talismans
The Sahrawi nomads believe in talismans that protect them. Often, men wear rings or bracelets as talismans.
The Sahrawi nomads, their culture and traditions, their way of life, their adaptation to the arid conditions of the desert, will continue to captivate the minds of thousands of curious and adventurous people, thirsty for exoticism and mystery..
For an authentic stay and an encounter with nomadic culture, contact us.
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