Tagelmust

Tagelmust (cheich or cheche) is a cotton garment traditionally worn by Tuareg adult men as both a veil and a turban. It is usually an indigo dyed piece of cloth. Cloths of other colours exist too. The cloth can be more than 10 metres long. The tagelmust is taken off only in front of close family members. This act scares of evil spirits. Tuareg's term for people who wear the tagelmust is “Kel Tagelmust” or "People of the Veil". Tagelmust can also be seen among the Hausa and Songhai people that live close to the Tuaregs.

Tagelmust

Tagelmust is very practical as it prevents the inhalation of sand during desert storms. Tuaregs believe that transfer of indigo from the cloth to human skin, that happens in time, is something good, even healthy. Because of this fact Tuaregs are often called the "blue men of the desert". The way tagelmust is folded shows to which clan or region its wearer belongs. The darkness of the tagelmust is also important. It shows the social status of the man.