Kel Ajjer Marriage Ceremonies in South-East Algeria

Presentation

Marriage ceremonies involve a great many rites which, when observed and described, make it possible to study a group from the inside, giving particular insight into the status of women. In the Tuareg culture, weddings are traditionally very expensive for the bridegroom and his family. This has given rise to a new custom: collective weddings initiated and supported financially by the State, associations and gifts from businesses. Nevertheless, collective weddings have not put a stop to all traditions.

In this region, the status of Tuareg women has been profoundly changed by the Muslim religion, reflecting a real shift in traditional values. By presenting these societal changes, we can not only show how a culture adapts to new circumstances, but also identify areas of resistance where traditions are maintained.

The special status of women who were married but are now single – widowed, repudiated or, more rarely, separated – shows that the freedom of women in Tuareg culture, so clearly established in the past, is today restricted by the law and religion of Algerian society.

Interview

Author

Ethnolinguist Catherine Vaudour did a course in Berber studies at Inalco before completing a doctorate on Tuareg Kel Ajjer marriage ceremonies in south-east Algeria (LLACAN-CNRS UMR 8135, EHESS). For the past 10 years, she has been in contact with Michel Vallet, interviewing him a number of times in order to preserve his knowledge of Tuareg culture and traditions. In December 2013, she created the Tatrit association to safeguard and promote Tuareg tangible and intangible heritage. 

255 pages
16 x 24 cm
Publication: 30/01/2019
ISBN: 9782858312870