Inadan, the Mastery of Tuareg Artisans

A rare look at the Inadan, the artist and craftspeople of the Tuareg, an indigenous culture of the Sahara.

Take a rare look at the artisans of the Tuareg people, who have made their home in North and West Africa for untold generations. An essential part of their hierarchical society is the group known as "Inadan"—the artists and craftspeople who make and adorn day-to-day objects, tools, crosses, jewelry, cutlery, swords, bags, musical instruments, and saddles.

The artisans use local materials in traditional ways to make objects of utility and beauty. These pieces and the skills required to make them are passed from parent to child, often within closely knit family structures in which fathers, sons, mothers, and daughters work together. Through his unprecedented access to the Inadan, the author captures the fragile Inadan culture as revealed through their rituals and artifacts. To help keep Inadan skills alive, the crafters share them with you through step-by-step photos and instructions.

Never-before-captured photographs by Tuareg craftsmen illustrate the materials and techniques used to create 40 objects. These objects—both functional and decorative—teach traditional techniques to modern crafters, capturing the culture and folk craft of the Inadan.