This photograph, taken in Algeria in the 1910s, depicts a woman of the Ouled Naïl, a Berber (Amazigh) tribe from the Atlas Mountains. The Ouled Naïl were known for their distinctive dress, elaborate coin jewelry, and cultural traditions that emphasized women’s independence.
The photo was taken by either Rudolph Lehnert or Ernst Heinrich Landrock, photographers who documented North Africa in the early 20th century.
Women of the Ouled Naïl tribe often adorned themselves with jewelry made from silver coins they earned as dancers and performers in Algerian cities. Their elaborate attire served as both ornament and display of personal wealth.
Today, the Ouled Naïl are remembered for their cultural legacy and for maintaining a distinct Amazigh identity through a century of colonial change.
by Frosty_Jeweler911
1 Comment
They arent Amazigh. They’re Arabs who trace their descent from Gulf Arabs who settled in Algeria in the 16th century.