Antique Tuareg Made Bella Amulet Mixed Metals Tribal Hair Ornament Niger, Africa

Description

This is a very rare, antique, African
Bella Tuareg tribal hair ornament amulet which can also be worn as a pendant.
This mixed metal amulet was made by the Tuareg metalsmiths for the sole purpose to be worn by the Bella people and this specimen measures 2.20 inches long (including the bail) by 2.30 inches wide. Great rustic condition with slight wear and this piece shows evidence of tribal use and is made from ethnic silver, copper and brass. The Tuareg people of Niger are well known for their talented metalsmiths.
The Bellah-iklan or just Bellah (also spelled Bella) live in Niger and Mali but are of Sudanese origin known as Nilotic people who were indigenous to the Nile Valley in Africa. The Bella were formerly and somewhat still held in slavery by the Tuareg. The Tuareg confederations acquired slaves by conducting raids on other tribal communities and villages. They also secured captives as war booty or purchased slaves in the native marketplaces. The slaves or servile communities are locally called Ikelan or Iklan, Eklan, and the fate of slavery was inherited, with the descendants of the slaves known as irewelen.
The Ikelan also known as the Bouzou & Bella people are a caste within Tuareg society, who were at one time slaves or members of servile communities. The Bella in the Tuareg society were the slave caste whose main occupation was rearing and herding livestock such as sheep and goats which was a very important role in this community. While the Ikelan now speak the same Tamasheq language as the Tuareg nobles and share many customs with the Tuareg, they are of assimilated Nilotic origin rather than of Berber heritage like the ethnic Tuareg. They also often live in their own communities separated from other Tuareg castes.
The name Ikelan, and to a much greater degree Bouzou and Bella, are names not used by these people themselves and these names actually carry negative connotations. Historically the term Ikelan has been used to refer to the black slaves of the Tuareg and the term iklan means "to be black". These slaves provided labor at their masters request. In parts of West Africa an unknown number of Ikelan caste individuals continue to live in slavery like relationships with other Tuareg individuals. Ikelan individuals and communities are found through much of Niger, Mali, Southern Algeria and Libya, and parts of Northern Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
This antique Bella tribal amulet is very collectible and would be perfect for adding to your African jewelry or African trade bead collection or for making a beautiful necklace and continuing the tradition of wearing these tribal symbols. I love to combine shipping on multiple orders to help you save money so please check out my ebay store where I have thousands of items to browse. For buyers of multiple items please email me when you are done shopping for your custom made invoice with combined shipping & insurance fees.