ABSTRACT
Music occupies a prominent position in the social, political, and ceremonial life of the Tuareg. In tribute to an old tradition that has continued to grow and change, the Tuareg describe anzad music in the Air region of Niger as “a still-flowering plant.” The word “tende” refers to a mortar drum, the music performed to its accompaniment, and the social event that features it. Though the Tuareg hold anzad music in higher esteem, tende is the music they more often perform. The mortar-drum music most often mentioned in the literature is tende “mortar drum of the camels.” Dance music without instruments is known as ezele n-tagbast. Artisan-musicians familiar with the tradition of tende may have introduced the mortar drum into the dance. The use of music to cure certain types of illnesses is widespread throughout the Sahara. A popular music and dance associated with the three-stringed lute, tahardent is performed in urban centers across the Sahara from Mali to Algeria.
