The poetics and politics of Tuareg aging : life course and personal destiny in Niger

In this unique ethnographical study of the people of the Kel Ewey confederation of Tuareg, Rasmussen explores concepts of age and aging in an African culture. A seminomadic community in northern Niger, the Tuareg understand aging in a way that is distinctly nonlinear - a dimension of life they measure outside of a chronological time frame. Instead, rituals related to marriage, childbirth, and death mark the process of aging. In this way the life course of an individual is more important to the notion of age than the literal age. A sense of private power and transformation of self over time are thus achieved through ritual. Rasmussen draws on field experience conducted between 1974 and 1995. The longevity of her ethnological study provided the opportunity for extended interaction with local residents, who eventually took an active role in studying the researcher. She explores the mutual exchange of knowledge about aging and life course - an interaction that itself sheds light on the need to deconstruct standard age-related categories for studying other cultures. The Poetics and Politics of Tuareg Aging lays a foundation for deeper understanding of topics related to gender, social stratum, and kinship throughout the life course as well as aging. It will be an important resource for anthropologists and will offer a point of departure for all who are interested in alternative concepts of aging.