Mohamed Koumama, the Greatest Tuareg Silversmith

Mohamed Koumama, Elhadji’s father, was the most famous silversmith of his time. He was born in the village of Agala in about 1919. His father, Koumama, was quite the lady’s man. He was married 10 times and had one child by each of seven wives. He left Mohamed’s mother when he was a small boy so he was raised by his mother and her new husband. He had six half-brothers and sisters, two of whom are still living.

When Mohamed was quite young he went to the Agadez area to work. There he met and fell in love with Chitoua. Since he had very light skin and was from a family that her parents did not know they were not sure that it would be a good marriage. Mohamed stayed and worked for her family for three years before the couple was finally given her family’s blessing to marry. They lived the nomadic life, as most Tuaregs did then. Their tents and his workshop were within walking distance of Agadez.

Mohamed and Chitoua had nine children, five sons and four daughters. Elhadji is the youngest child. Chitoua died giving birth to him in January1968. Mohamed raised him with the help of his older daughters, some of whom were married by then.

From the 1950s European collectors of Tuareg jewelry and African traders found their way to Mohamed’s tent to buy the beautiful pieces he made. At that time the finest jewelry was made from Maria Teresa coins that were melted down for the metal. They are about 60 percent silver and 40 percent other metals. Mohamed insisted on using the coins because he trusted the metal content.

As each of his sons reached the age of seven or so they sat beside him to learn the skills from him. By the time they were young men they also had become master artisans and were soon teaching their sons the secrets of the forge. When Mohamed’s eyesight began to fail and he could no longer make jewelry himself he loved to sit either in the workshop at the front of his house or under the shade outside of his room and teach grandsons to perfect their work. He was gentle but insistent that they do the best quality work. Good enough was just not a phrase he accepted. The high standards he drilled into his heirs is what sets the Koumama family apart from all others now.

In 1959 the soon to be independent French colony of Niger held national competitions to select the best artisans for each of the crafts made in the country. Mohamed was selected as the best silversmith. Samples of his work were put in display in the brand new National Museum during independence ceremonies in 1960. After 48 years Mohamed’s work is still there for visitors to admire.

Mohamed married Gaicuta after being alone for about seven years. They had one son, Ousemane, who now works with Elhadji in the jewelry business. She was like a mother to Elhadji too. Unfortunately when Ousemane was four years old she got sick with symptoms that sound like tuberculosis and died. Since there was no medical care it is difficult to know for sure the cause of her death.

In the late 1970s there was a terrible drought in northern Niger. Many animals and people died. Mohamed sold the remaining animals, and in a break from tradition, used the money to buy a mud brick house near the Grande Marche in Agadez. His family thought he was crazy but they were soon moving too to avoid starvation. Elhadji was about nine when they took down the tents and moved into town. Mohamed’s widow, his oldest son, Sidi, and Sidi’s extended family still live in the house.

About 1985 when he was around 66 years old Mohamed married Hadija, who was about 26. They were happily married for 20 years and had two daughters.

Mohamed died on February 4, 2004, surrounded by his wife, all of his 12 children and many of his 67 grandchildren. Mohamed’s death truly marked the passing of an era. He was the last of the old nomadic Inadin silversmiths. Everyone came to give condolences and show respect for him. Hundreds of people attended the first “charity” three days after his passing: the sultan and his many sons; the wealthy Arab traders; Mohamed’s extended family; ordinary citizens who knew him for his honesty and kindness; nomads from the Air Mountains; travel agents who had often taken their clients to the shop to see the best Tuareg jewelry and how it was made; the poorest people from the “slave village” (although they have not been slaves for generations). Many of them returned for the 40 day charity.

Several books in three languages tell the story of Mohamed. Rene Gardi’s Cram Cram published in French in 1971 tells the story of the Tuareg nomads and has a section on him; Gardi’s book African Crafts and Craftsmen, translated into English and published in 1969 includes a chapter on Mohamed; Desiree Trotha’s Heisse Sonne Kalter Mond, written in German tells the story of the Koumamas and an Algerian family; her book Die Enkel Der Echse, in German is all about the members of the Koumama family.

Return to top