Inadan (African caste) explained

The Inadan, also referred to as Enad or Tinadan,^{[1] [2]} have been one of the historic artisan castes in West Africa, particularly among the Tuareg people.^{[3] [4]} Sometimes referred to as an endogamous caste and sometimes as endogamous marginalized class within the Tuareg, the Inadan are found in Niger, Mali, Libya, Sahel and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa.^{[5] [6] [7]}

The Inadan have been a part of the Tuareg society that has traditionally featured clan membership, social status and caste hierarchies within each political confederation.^[8] These hierarchical systems have included nobles, clerics, craftsmen and unfree strata of people.^{[9] [10]} According to the anthropologist Jeffrey Heath, Tuareg artisans have been a separate endogamous castes known as the Inhædˤæn (Inadan) within this social stratification.^[10]

The Inadan live in Tuareg settlements, are sedentary, considered subordinate and lowly, and endogamous because of social taboos towards inter-marriage between their strata and other members of the Tuareg tribe.^[4] Their hereditary occupation has been artisanal smith-related work and leather work,^[11] but they have diversified into providing labor services such as in tourism in contemporary Tuareg communities.^{[12] [13]} According to Heath, Inadan have included the blacksmith, jewelers, wood workers and leather artisan castes.^[10] They produced and repaired the saddles, tools, household items and other items for the Tuareg community. In Niger and Mali, where the largest Tuareg populations are found, the artisan castes were attached as clients to a family of nobles or vassals, and carried messages over distances for their patron family. They also are the ones who traditionally sacrifice animals during Islamic festivals.

See also

• Caste systems in Africa

References

Bibliography

• Book: Karl G. Prasse. The Tuaregs: The Blue People. 1995. Museum Tusculanum Press. 978-87-7289-313-6.
• Tal Tamari. 1991. The Development of Caste Systems in West Africa. The Journal of African History. 32. 2. 221–250. Cambridge University Press. 182616. 10.1017/s0021853700025718.
• Eike Haberland (1993), Hierarchie und Kaste : zur Geschichte und politischen Struktur der Dizi in Südwest-Äthiopien, Stuttgart : Steiner, (in German)
• Todd . David M. . Caste in Africa? . Africa . Cambridge University Press . 47 . 4 . 1977 . 398–412 . 10.2307/1158345 . 1158345 .

Notes and References

1. Book: Ines Kohl. Anja Fischer. Tuareg Society within a Globalized World: Saharan Life in Transition. 2010. Tauris . 978-0-85771-924-9. 232.
2. Davis . Elizabeth A. . Metamorphosis in the Culture Market of Niger . American Anthropologist . Wiley-Blackwell . 101 . 3 . 1999 . 485–501 . 10.1525/aa.1999.101.3.485 .
3. Newby . John E. . Grettenberger . John F. . The Human Dimension in Natural Resource Conservation: A Sahelian Example from Niger . Environmental Conservation . Cambridge University Press (CUP) . 13 . 3 . 1986 . 249–256 . 10.1017/s0376892900036304 . "The 'iklan' (former slaves) and 'inadan' (blacksmiths and artisans) castes, depend on woodworking for part of their livelihoods.".
4. Book: Ruth Cyr. Twentieth Century Africa. 2001. New Africa Press. 978-0-595-18982-3. 382–383.
5. Book: Peter Veth. Mike Smith. Peter Hiscock. Desert Peoples: Archaeological Perspectives. 2008. John Wiley & Sons. 978-1-4051-3753-9. 264–265.
6. Book: Jonathan M. Bloom. Sheila S. Blair. The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture. 2009. Oxford University Press Incorporated. 978-0-19-530991-1. 247–248.
7. Book: Shoup III. John A.. Ethnic Groups of Africa and the Middle East. 2011. ABC-CLIO. 978-1598843637. 295.
8. Book: Elizabeth Heath. Anthony Appiah. Henry Louis Gates. Encyclopedia of Africa. 2010. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-533770-9. 499–500.
9. Book: Joseph Rudolph Jr.. Encyclopedia of Modern Ethnic Conflicts. 2nd. 2015. ABC-CLIO. 978-1-61069-553-4. 380–381., Quote: "The Tuareg are seminomadic people of Berber origin. There are various Tuareg clans and confederation of clans. Historically, Tuareg groups are composed of hierarchical caste systems within clans, including noble warriores, religious leaders, craftsmen, and those who are unfree".
10. Book: Jeffrey Heath. A Grammar of Tamashek, Tuareg of Mali . 2005. Walter de Gruyter. 978-3-11-090958-6. 7–8.
11. Book: David J. Phillips. Peoples on the Move: Introducing the Nomads of the World. 2001. William Carey Library. 978-0-87808-352-7. 170–172.
12. Book: Ines Kohl. Anja Fischer. Tuareg Society within a Globalized World: Saharan Life in Transition. 2010. Tauris . 978-0-85771-924-9. 176–177, 126, 148.
13. Book: Peter Probst. Gerd Spittler. Between Resistance and Expansion: Explorations of Local Vitality in Africa . 2004. LIT Verlag Münster. 978-3-8258-6980-9. 80–81.