Save the Imzad
The imzad is the child of silence and of the lament of the desert !
It was born among the nomad tribes, and its breath comes from the free space that surrounds it.
It is in this space of freedom that the imzad was born and that it is passed on from generation to generation without losing its foundations.
One cannot speak of the AHAL and of the IMZAD without referring to the beautiful DASSINE, goddess of the Ahaggar, queen of beauty and virtuoso of the Ahal and of the Imzad. Indeed, at the beginning of the 20th century, she was the bard of the imzad, of poetry and of beauty.
Yes, it is true, long ago, so long ago… Dassine was a poetess, in fact a princess of poetry… her muse, which set hearts trembling, made her say :
« Prefer above every voice,
Prefer with me the voice of the imzad,
The violin that knows how to sing.
And do not be surprised that it has but one string.
Have you more than one heart with which to love ?
My imzad, mine alone, is all the space that calls to you ».
Silences The « Save the Imzad » Association
The « Save the Imzad » Association has brought together many volunteers, the majority of whom come from the Hoggar. It was created and approved by decision of the Wali of Tamanrasset under No. 53/2003, dated 27 October 2003. The Association acts on a non-profit basis, with contributions from sponsors and with civil society as a lever of support, in order to achieve objectives of a humanitarian, cultural and social nature.
Thanks to the year of Algeria in France 2003, I published “Silences”, a book-album gathering all my photographs of the desert. With the first cheque that Casbah Editions gave me, the account of the “Save the Imzad” Association was opened.
17 December 2003 
Save the Imzad gathering The Association’s primary objective is to take part in safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage of the Hoggar, by campaigning for the preservation of the authenticity of the imzad as a cultural expression and mark of identity.
The fight against poverty and neglect is also among its concerns, and this is why the conviction of the « Save the Imzad » Association proceeds through a long-term process guaranteeing:
– the promotion of Touareg culture
– the training of the younger generations
– the organisation of debates, exchanges and encounters with those who work towards such an objective, in Algeria as everywhere else in the region, and this together with the institutions concerned.
It was clear to the members of the association that to become involved and to work as a team, in a logic of sustainable development, calls for a full and entire commitment and an individual and collective code of ethics. This had to be founded on the principles of transparency and collegiality of the decision-making process, including in particular the local partners.
And so the association was born in 2004
Publications — Silences, Imzad, reviews
today at dar el imzad
A school for all
