Imzad is a single-stringed bowed instrument played by women that is characteristic of Tuareg communities.
Women in Niger can strengthen their messenger roles by preserving the cultural practice of imzad.
There is a calabash body enclosed in animal skin, and horsehair strings are connected near the neck, and they run over two-part bridges. There is also around bow made from horsehair. Modern attempts to promote the imzad as a uniquely Tuareg instrument, for example in accompanying songs during ceremonies known as takkets. However, the instrument is typically used only by women.
The art is still performed by women today in marriage celebrations and wedding jubilees. Female imzad musicians have played this instrument for ages, and the only element allowed to participate in the male soloist's voice.
During Tuareg ceremonies, the musician sits on her knees with her instrument and uses a wooden bow to play it. Imzad is a blend of music and poetry that is usually performed on ceremonial occasions. These instruments provide melodic accompaniment to songs that glorify the exploits of past heroes.
The songs are composed, read, or sung by men, and both men and women participate through modulation or high-pitched cries. Music with these functions is also played to drive away evil spirits and alleviate the pain of the sick. A woman crafts the instrument from half a dried, hollowed-out gourd, and pierces it with sound holes in the shape of rosettes. A V-shaped wooden bridge is then strung above it.
The Imzad represents the player's feelings and moods. An inability to master a performance is considered a misfortune. Imzad musical knowledge is transmitted orally via observation and assimilation of traditional methods.
According to a traditional Tuareg saying, "Without Imzad, you cannot have anything, but with Imzad, you have honor, courage, and bravery." To the Tuareg, an imzad represents more than a mere weapon; it is a symbol of identity that demands respect for ashak, a code of conduct, and shared values.
Currently, a project that aims to teach young Tuareg girls the art of playing the Imzad and to promote Tuareg oral lore through the "Imzad Hearers" in the Air region, created an imzad project to encourage them to perfect the prehistoric skill of playing the Imzad. Learning imzad allowed the young women a platform for expression and identification and helped them understand the importance of stability in this region. However, being trained in the imzad connected young women from different backgrounds and helped strengthen their role as messengers of peace in their communities.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/practices-and-knowledge-linked-to-the-imzad-of-the-tuareg-communities-of-algeria-mali-and-niger-00891) (https://medium.com/usaid-2030/imzad-the-music-of-the-sahel-2259fb1d7179) (https://www.temehu.com/imazighen/music.htm) (https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Imzad) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imzad)