9 / 2001
Niger * Touareg sandal with Y-string upper
The Touareg people - Arabic 'Tawarig' - are living in the Sahara desert, spread out over Algeria, Libya and Niger and number about 300,000, subdivided in several tribes. Above sandal is called 'temba-temba' and is worn and made by the Hoggar-Touaregs. With its extra wide shape it is typical for the sandy region. Two soles are made of cleaned cow leather; the midsole is depilated while the outsole has the hair partly left on it for a better grip in the sand. The hide is beaten and rubbed in with peanut oil or butter for softening. The insole is made of goat leather. The soles are glued together with a mixture of millet and water and handstitched with tendons and fine strips of colourful leather. The green colour is popular in the Islamic region as it represents the colour of the flag of the prophet Mohammed.
Research and text by : W.A.H.M. Habraken-Oosterhout-Holland
Illustration by : Colin Ball - Waalwijk - Holland