Vintage Leather Tuareg Tribal Messenger Bag

Vintage Leather Tuareg Tribal Messenger Bag  

13" x 12"

Tightly woven colorful leather strips make up an intricate geometric pattern on the front, leading to an excess of fringe along the bottom - Flat tote body has a foldover design with a small toggle closure and large patch pocket on the front – missing the original crossbody strap – no label -  some crinkling to the fringe, light wear inside the pocket and a few faint marks on the back  - Width: 11"  - Height: 10" (20" with the fringe & 6" foldover).

UAA13.07 
$395.00 

Plus Shipping

Traditionally hand made and colored by the Tuareg in Hoggar in Algerian Sahara, these bages were called Kanu Green named after the city in Nigeria, famous for large regional trade of 1000's of years. 

The Tuareg, who once controlled the caravan routes across the Sahara are a semi-nomadic people of North African Berber origin. Grouped into independent federations, they number approximately 1.5 million and live principally in southern Algeria, southwestern Libya, Mali and Niger.

Although nominally Muslim in faith, Taureg women do not wear the veil because a tribesman explained ‘Our women are beautiful. We would like to see their faces’. Men, in fact, wear a veil of indigo blue called the ‘Alasho’. The men’s facial covering originates from a belief that it wards off evil spirits. Taking on the veil is associated with passage to manhood.

Also significant to both sexes is the wearing of amulets containing sacred objects. Necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and beads have great value for their women.