The photograph depicts Tuareg woman wearing traditional long dark cloth and man wearing turban and face veil (tagelmust) made of indigo-dyed cloth. "While men's face veiling and women's headscarves fulfill Islamic requirements of modesty, they are also symbols of the Tuareg cultural value of reserve. These headdresses are directly linked to concepts of the person and to changes in an individual's status throughout his or her life (Rasmussen 1992: 101)." [Arnoldi M., 1995: Wrapping the Head, Crowning Achievements, UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History]. During his trip to Mali, Elisofon visited the Kel Tademekket confederation of Tuareg people located in the Tombouctou region. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.
Local Numbers:
A 1 TRG 8 EE 59
General:
Title is provided by EEPA staff based on photographer's notes.
Local Note:
Time Life Magazine no. 57938 1 39
Frame value is 19.
Slide No. A 1 TRG 8 EE 59
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
Collection Rights:
Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
