Cultures And Tribes

CULTURES AND TRIBES

There are many different people groups and tribes across the continent of Africa - with their culture varying from tribe to tribe. Many tribes of indigenous people have traversed the Sahara Desert. There are still dozens of different tribes that wander throughout the region, such as the Chaamba, the Fulani, the Tibu, the Bobo, and the Doui Menia, and many more. Three groups of people, Arabs, Berbers and Tuaregs are found in majority in the Sahara desert. Arabs are the dominant group in the northern Saharan areas. They arrived in North Africa during the 7th century AD, at a time when Islam was spreading from its birthplace in the Middle East. As Islam moved into North Africa, the local people were either converted to the religion, or withdrew further into mountainous or desert areas.

Berbers are believed to be the earliest inhabitants of the Atlas Mountains. Berbers do not consider themselves Arabs. There are many scattered tribes of Berber across Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Many live in the Atlas Ranges and work as farmers, while Berber nomads also dwell throughout the Sahara. The Tuareg people are generally regarded as Berbers who were pushed into the desert from the Atlas Range as Arabs advanced from the east. Today, Tuaregs travel mostly through the southern area of the Sahara, extending from the south of Algeria into Libya, Niger, and Mali. Tuaregs can now be found as far away as the savanna lands in West Africa. The Tuareg tribes can be broken down into eight main groups, according to their region, and within the eight groups there are many sub-groups. Tuareg are known for their men's practice of veiling the face with a blue, indigo-dyed cloth.