The Taureg of the Sahara Desert
Pray for the Tuareg of the Sahara Desert.
The Tuareg are a semi-nomadic people related to the Berbers of North Africa. They are Folk Muslim and are well-known for the blue veils the men wear. They are proud of their culture and renown as fierce warriors.
Pray that many of the Tuareg would cry out to God: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will find refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” Psalm 57:1
Population: 1-2 million
Location and Background: The Tuaregs live in the Sahara Desert and the Sahel regions of Algeria, Libya, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. They are Berber people. Their culture dates back a thousand years.
History: It is believed the Tuareg originated in Libya and migrated South and spread across the region. Before modern shipping, they were camel caravan traders, traversing the desert transporting goods.
Culture: The Tuareg are semi-nomadic, taking their herds of goats, cows, and camels out to find pasture seasonally. The men are known as “The Blue Men of the Sahara Desert” because of the distinctive indigo blue veil they wear. Interestingly, the women do not wear veils. Women are respected and have a voice in decisions. They also own the tents and livestock.
Religion: The Tuareg are Folk Muslims. They have blended their ancient animistic beliefs with Islam.
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Connections
We praise God for ever-deepening, meaningful connections being made and relationships being built in this hard-to-access Tuareg area. Keep praying for this region of the world and the network that we are building there. Pray for spiritual breakthrough.
No one knows the time or hour
TAYIB the TUAREG
Tayib served our small tour group as the cook in the deep desert of Tassili N’Ajjer National Park in Algeria. Always present with a smile and truly never a complaint he demonstrated joy each and every day. We enjoyed speaking with him about the Saviour we follow but he kindly emphasized to us that the entire Tuareg group are 100% Muslim and he was no exception. We each said our goodbyes and returned to the comfort of our various homes. Then, without warning, two weeks later and with no explanation we are told by a fellow tour guide that Tayib has passed away leaving a small family behind. Clearly no one knows the day or time we will breathe our last breath, but our time is now to join the work happening in this land. We are compelled by His great Love to share the hope of salvation we have in our hearts. We have an obligation to participate in spreading of his word to a people that have extremely limited access to genuine believers in such a vast land.
