Elhadji Koumama is a Tuareg silversmith from Niger, and he’s attended the Market since 2009.

Here we take a more detailed look at his work, and how he uses sales from the Market to help his community.

Elhadji learned his skills from his father, himself a renowned silversmith, and he continues the tradition of Tuareg jewelry making using the lost wax method.

Creating the pieces

First, he makes the form of the piece out of wax, and then covers it with clay.

When the clay is dry, Elhadji stokes a fire with bellows made of goat skin, and heats the clay so the wax melts out of it, leaving just the clay mould.

He melts the silver and pours it into the mould.

When the silver has cooled, Elhadji breaks the mould to reveal the piece, which is then filed, etched and polished using simple hand tools.

Tuareg jewelry uses geometric designs – in particular triangular and diamond patterns.

Different patterns and shapes have different significance.

Crosses offer protection from evil, a circle represents the eye of a chameleon, a half circle the moon, and cross hatching represents crocodile teeth.

The Egourou, a diamond-shaped pendant, is given by a husband to his bride during a marriage ceremony.

In Tuareg culture, it’s the women who wear the jewelry – it’s considered unlucky for men to wear silver.

‘It helps keep our history alive

Elhadji, who is married with six children, says,”When my father died, his dream for me was to be successful, to be the best like he did.

‘He wanted me to take care of the family and the business . . .  it is my dream to create jobs for all the artisans in the family and all the local artisans that make jewelry.

What it means for me to be Tuareg is to have honor and to be honest.’

Recent political upheavals and food shortages in northern Niger, where most Nigerien Tuareg live, have brought hardship and hunger to many people.

Artisans working on this jewelry can support their families, and Elhadji has also used the earnings to buy food for hundreds of other people who would otherwise go hungry.

Elhadji continues, ‘I want to tell everybody how it helps if people buy the jewelry. All of the artisans can take care of their families, and this is a good thing.

‘They are very happy now, because they can feed their family now all of the time. It is a good feeling of security for the artisans and their families.

The work also helps us to keep our Tuareg traditions. It helps keep our history and art alive.’

To help artists like Elhadji participate in the Folk Art Market and create change in his community, we invite you to give a gift in honor of a loved one with a donation to the Folk Art Market in their name. Simply make your gift today and we will send a beautiful personalized e-card to your loved one.

Photographer Christian Peacock has made a beautiful video with Elhadji explaining his work: