An interview with Danto Aya: one of only two Tuareg people known to be currently living in the UK

Danto Aya is a Libyan musician and one of only two Tuareg people known to be currently living in the UK. A talented professional, he is a solo singer who plays the guitar, as well as being a composer who writes his own songs.

I myself met Danto in Manchester when he was living near there. He had been taking part in many concerts and festivals following his first arrival in 2007. His story, including his life as a Tuareg under the Qaddafi regime and his struggle to become an artist has been a challenging one. In the following few lines I try to explore his life, first as a child in Libya and then as a musician, as I talk to him about his experiences, including his life here in the UK as a former Sahara nomad.

Q. First of all I want to thank you for sparing us time to talk to us exploring your life. Then the first question I want to put to you is this: "How do you personally define yourself?"

A. (with a laugh): I’m simply Danto Aya, a Tuareg musician from Ghat in the south of Libya. I’m 38 years old, and currently living in London, and I work as a solo artist. I play acoustic guitar: steel-stringed acoustic guitar, and all-electric guitar also.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood?

A. I was born in 1977 in a small village near Ghat and had two

brothers and [two?] sisters. I was brought up as a nomad, but both my parents died when I was only 5. Then an aunt and some cousins had to share the responsibity for looking after me, along with my brothers and sisters. I was mainly looked after by the aunt.

Q. How would you describe the life that you lived in those days?

A. (with a sigh): People had next to nothing to live off because of the great drought that struck the Sahara between the years 1977 and 1984 although they still had a pride and dignity which are all too rare these days. My father had died following an attack of measles. That was at a time when he was trying to save the last ten of our surviving goats, and our mother died quite soon after that. It was when those Tuareg who had lost their animals in the prolonged drought began to migrate to towns and villages in Southern Algeria and Libya. My guardian's family decided to move further North than others, as far as Ghat, where I spent most of my childhood and early adulthood.

Q. How difficult was it as nomads to live in a town in those days?

A. It was very difficult for us, everything was completely different. At the beginning we moved to a village where there was a refugee camp that Qaddafi's regime had built for the Tuareg people, particularly in the 1970s and on into the late '80s. The camp was set up on the outskirts of the town of Tahala. As children we had no chance of schooling, not at any age, due to our complete lack of documents and papers. But what Qaddafi’s regime did offer to the Tuareg was military training. He was planning to send people to Chad and the Lebanon. And although he promised nationality and housing in a famous 1980 speech, those things have never become a reality, not even now, right up to the day when we're speaking.

Q. What made you move to England and what’s the main difference between being here and the Sahara desert?

A. I used to sing in the Tuareg language and to do gigs, but this was all forbidden under Qaddafi's regime. I was arrested, and imprisoned and tortured a few times, just for singing in my own language, although that was all I could speak back then. Then in 2007, out of the blue the Qaddafi regime increased the pressure on non-Arabic speakers like Berbers. I found myself back in prison, and for the same reason, all over again. But this time I decided to run away once and for all

Akli: last not least I would like to thank you again for your time for making this interview possible

Danto: No, problem!

....لعنة الشمس ونكسة الحدود

Voices from the Sahara: ....لعنة الشمس ونكسة الحدود

....لعنة الشمس ونكسة الحدود

تشق السماء إلى نصفين من أقاصي الشرق إلى أقاصي الغرب بعجالة رهيبة قبل أن تستقر في مكان إقامتها المفضل فوق سماء "تينيري" لتصب حمم جحيمها فوق رؤوس سكانها نهارا كاملا.. فلا تبرح مكانها قبل أن تفرغ جام غضبها على شعبي الواقع بين فكي كماشة وتبث فيهم التعاسة وقد سلبتهم الوسامة و اختلست منهم السعادة ..

فكم من عَجُوز قضى حياته بين البئر والنجع , وكم من يافِع واعد قضى نحبه تعذيبا تحت ركلات أقدام بوليس المستعمر.. وكم من مَوْلُود قدر له أن يمضي طفولته غريبا معوزا شاردا وصرخاته تخيم في سماء مخيمات اللاجئين, وكم من أم ضاقت بها السبل بحثا عن إبنها الفار من جفاء ثُدِيٌّها بعيدا في متاهات بلاد الغربة بحثا عن رمق الحياة.. ومازال في أرضي متسع لقبر شهيد!

تستريح الملعونة غير آبهة من فوق لعناتها الأرضية المسماة: اليورانيوم, الذهب, النفط وما أكثر بشاعة من هذا وذاك  من تلك المولودة الزائدة في عام 63 المسماة, بالحدود. فكيف لا؟ فالعرف تقول أن الأرض الحبلى بهذه اللعنات لا يسلم أهلها من وسم العبودية والاستعمار التَائِق لما يسميه أهل الدنيا بالخيرات ونسميه نحن باللعنات!

لقد شكل عام 63 بداية النكسة الكبرى وبداية الشتات المشؤم الذي بفضله مزق المستعمر أخر عرق في جسم “الامة" بجرة قلم وقطع كل ما يربطها بالأرض والوجود والكرامة.

قديما في أساطير الأمم العابرة يقال أن رقم "ثلاثة" و"ستة" أرقام شُؤْم ومجلبة للعنات والحظوظ السيئة. تلك هي اللعنة التي نزلت في ذلك العام على أهلي  كما تنزل الصحون الطائرة معلنة بداية الاغتراب عن الذات والوطن والهوية.. إنه إعلان نهاية السيادة وسقوط الملكية وبداية وأد ثقافة ومحنة شعب فريد!

فقبل أن تواصل المشؤومة رحلتها إلى العالم الآخر حاملة معها البرودة والرأفة كأنها مستحية من فعلتها ترسل وابل من حممها النارية ضارمة القلق واليأس في رؤوس سكان صحرائي, تجعلهم يَتَمَلْمَلُون في سيرهم  وأقدامهم تصب دما وقيحا من شدة حرقة الرّمْضَاءُ..  تنفخ كالحية في تكوينات وتجمعات الغبار والرمال مخلفة زوبعات ورياح هوجاء التي بدورها تزحف على كل ماهو أخضر وكل ما يرمز للحياة, ثم تجعل الماء يدب في أحشاء الأرض بعيدا فيشتد الظمأ وتتبعثر أبسط وسائل الحياة في كافة أرجاء وطني.. تجبر البراري والزواحف باتخاذ الجحور والمغارات سكنا في محاولة يائسة لاتقاء شرورها الجهنمية قبل أن تضطر بالعودة مرة أخرى للسطح المثخن هو الآخر بالظلام بعد رحلة الأنقاض الطويلة!

أقسمت البائسة ألا تغادر مكانها قبل أن تقضي على كل ماهو جميل حتى  بات إسمها قرين لجهنم.. الفقر..الظمأ..الجدب.. التصحر وللعبودية والظلم.  جعلت من السُرّاق والمستعمرين ملوك وأسيادا وجعلت منا متسولون.. أستباحت جبالنا ورمالنا وودياننا وانتهكت نقاء أجواءنا. فهي من جلب "بي بي" و"سونطراك" و"توتال"  " وإيني غاز" و "أريفا" لتعكر نقاء وسماحة صحرائي ..  بفضلها داس الغرباء بأقدامهم أرضي طمعا وبحثا عن غنيمة وعن اغتيال غزال, براءة وطني وبراءة كل الاوطان.. بفضلها أصبحنا طريدة وغرباء بدون عنوان, بفضلها أصبح وطني مسرحا للإرهابيين ومعبر للمهاجرين!

The Amazigh people of Libya: their aspirations and their role in the Revolution of April 17th/Akli Sh'kka

The Amazigh people of Libya: their aspirations and their role in the Revolution of April 17th

Almost six years have now passed since the first shot was fired in the Libyan revolution.  It was fired in the direction of Gaddafi loyalists who remained loyal to their master who was however soon to be deposed.  That shot was heard around the world and it's echo can still be heard today throughout Libya. On that memorable occasion, 17 April 2011, a small number of Libyan Arab protesters took to the streets of Zawiya and Benghazi.  

Within a very short time the same thing was happening in lots of other places, particularly in the west in the Nafusa Mountains, a region where the majority of native Amazigh currently live.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

In other towns and cities in different places a lot of people were following suit, although countless others hesitated as they watched in fear and trepidation, full of apprehension as the widespread protests gradually escalated until eventually a major rebellion had spread like wildfire across the whole country. The international community looked on with growing concern, wondering what on earth was going to happen next.  An unprecedented sequence  of events unfolded in rapid succession in Libya.  It was not long however before Nicholas Sarkozy, President of France at the time, took a very unexpected decision and decided to stand by the Libyan people.  It meant opposing a previous major backer, the man who had in fact done a lot to finance his recent election, namely Colonel Qaddafi. Somewhere at the U.N. Headquarters in New York others were soon taking an interest and noises were beginning to be heard.  On 26 February the UN Security Council passed an initial resolution which froze the assets of Gaddafi and his inner circle and restricted their travel.  They also referred various matters to the International Criminal Court for investigation.  In early March however Gaddafi's forces were nevertheless able to rally.  After a strong push eastwards, re-taking several coastal towns or cities, they finally reached the stronghold of Benghazi.   A further UN resolution authorised member states to establish and enforce a 'No Fly Zone' over Libya.  

Amazigh protest,Tripoli, Libya

This was in order to prevent attacks on civilians.  Then on 16 September the UN recognised the National Transitional Council as the legal representative of the State of Libya.  On Oct 20, after getting caught up in cross fire, Qaddafi himself was captured, before being killed in a particularly horrible and brutal way.  To many Libyans this marked the end of 42 years of Qaddafi rule. But was it in fact to be truly the end of the immensely long Qaddafi regime and saga?  The answer, alas has to be a very clear and definite 'NO!', and it is a sad fact that many of the Libyans who took to the streets on the memorable first day, back in 2011, would now be forced to agree with my opinion, in the very different circumstances that obtain today in 2016. Despite the fact that on that earlier occasion the people decided to take the future into their own hands, today the future looks ever more bleak and uncertain than even in the days of the ruthless dictator. We have to remember that Libya experienced one of the most awkward and peculiar revolutions of modern times, for a whole variety of complicated reasons.   It is a simple fact that countless incidents in an uncoordinated rebellion happened essentially at random and in a disorganised way and there was a complete absence of any real or coordinated overall plan; that is, apart from some scattered opposition voices in Europe and America, which, however, also lacked coordination or a United Front - political &/or military - to unify them. When Qaddafi’s forces pushed their way Eastwards towards Benghazi (the second largest town in Libya after the capital Tripoli) every single Libyan either at home or in exile watched in fear with bated breath wondering what might be going to follow this setback. Now however those who then asked themselves that question undoubtedly know much of the answer.  

Amazigh fighters

 Six years on from when that first shot was fired lots of questions remain unanswered and a tremendous number of intractable problems have still to be sorted out.Failure is the name of the game as regards this particular revolution at least for the Amazigh people.  They suffered in both the April Revolution and during the days of Qaddafi’s regime, At that time parents were even forbidden to allow their newborns even so much as to keep their Amazigh names.  School textbooks made no reference at all to Amazigh culture and history, and names like Masiniss, Mazigh,  Akli and Tannit were completely banned.   Authentic Amazigh leaders such as Tariq ibn Ziyad, Ibn Battuta, Hannibal and Syphax were all introduced to pupils and students as if those varied individuals were all of Arab extraction.  Teaching Amazigh history was totally forbidden as were all types of art.  And musicians were forced to sing in Arabic rather than in the mother tongue, Tamazight. Suspected activists or 'agitators' as well as competent writers were either 'disappeared' or just killed.  That was the fate of the great poet and writer Saeed Sifawe, killed in 1994 by Gaddafi's henchmen in a planned 'accident'. Because of  the repression suffered by the Amazigh people under Qaddafi’s regime, they were among the first true Libyans, of any ethnicity, to take up arms and to join the revolution.  Towns like Yefren, Kalla, Jadou Kabou, Nalout and Zawara were the first Western Libya towns to join the uprising. There was however a terrible price to pay!  On 13th June 2011 34 civilians were found to have been buried alive.  In this grisly event known as 'The Almaieb Massacre' most of the victims were very either young people or elderly men from Qualla, a small village situated 120km west of the capital Tripoli.  

The Amazigh towns and cities were regarded as a legitimate target by Gaddafi's militias, and as a direct consequence hundreds of innocent Amazigh were killed in cold blood. This leads us to ask an important question: 'Were any Amazigh aspirations for the Revolution - or expectations of it - ever achieved, ambitions which they shared with many other Libyans on the battlefield, for a fairer State able to hold ALL its inhabitants as equals, without distinction as to colour, race or belief?  At least for the time being, the realisation of such dreams is still miles away. As regards the proposed new Libyan Constitution, the indigenous people of whom we speak boycotted the elections that were held on 20 July 2014.  After two years of hard work costing hundreds of thousands of dollars out of public funds, ‘The Constitution Drafting Assembly’ had completed the final draft of their official document.  The final product however was a total and utter disappointment and betrayal for the Amazigh people, many of whom had made the ultimate sacrifice.  The resulting Final Draft came nowhere near minimum requirements for Equality and Justice. For Article Two of the new  constitution proposal went like this: Identity and Language: ‘’The Libyan Identity shall be based on inclusive and diversified principles.   Libyans are proud of their social, cultural, and linguistic elements and Libya shall be considered part of the Arab and Muslim World, of Africa, and of the Mediterranean Basin.  The Languages spoken by the Libyans or a part of them, including Arabic, Amazigh, Targuiya and Tebu are considered a cultural and linguistic heritage as well as a common asset for all Libyans.  The State shall guarantee taking the necessary measures to protect them, to preserve their originality and to develop their teaching to and usage by those who speak them.  Arabic is the language of the State. The law shall regulate in the first parliamentary term the details of integrating the other languages in the areas of public life on the local level and the State level’’

 Article Two of the proposed final version of the constitution, as eventually published does similarly, perhaps inevitably state that Arabic is to be the one and only Official Language of the Libyan State.  But also as above Tamazight (Berber) is curiously described as 'a cultural and linguistic heritage of all Libyans'.  What strange 'diplomatic' highly delusional language this constitution is playing with  .And what a disappointment for the Amazigh people this will be !

Today six years on from the start of the revolution, I believe that well-informed intelligent and active Amazigh young people must all agree that the struggle for Human Rights in modern Libya is far from over. Although on a new course Libya is heading in a very uncertain direction.

السفيرة الامريكية تزور منطقة الطوارق "أهقار" جنوب الجزائر 

قامت السفيرة الاميركية "جوان بولاشيك"  بزيارة غير متوقعة لمنطقة  الطوارق "أهقار",  جنوب الجزائر التي على أثرها قام والي وحالكم المدينة التقليدي السيد أدبير بأستقبالها والتجول معها. حيث شهدت  في أماكن مختلفة من المدينة, رفقة عدد كبير من أعيان ونساء الطوارق وهي ترتدي زيا تقليديا خاص بالطوارق قدم لها كهدية

 قبل أن تحظي بترحيب خاص من قبل أهالي المدينة  وعلى طريقتهم الخاصة.. حيث أقيم على شرفها أستعراض تقليدي مصغر تحللته أنغام "تيندي" بصوت الفنانة التقليدية المعروفة لالة ولت بادي . وبدورها عبرت بأعجابها الشديد بثقافة الطوارق التي وصفتها بأنها الفريدة من نوعها في العالم

 وتتزامن زيارة السفيرة الامريكلية لمنطقة أهقار بأحداث دامية تشهدها منطقة "تين زواين" الواقعة في أقصى جنوب الجزائري حيث تشهد هذه الاخيرة منذ أيام,  مظاهرات وأعتصامات عارمة ردا على  مقتل أحد أبناء الطوارق في المدينة من قبل الجيش الجزائري ووسط أزمة أقتصادية تضرب الجنوب الجزائري  منذ إغلاق الحدود أمام التجار من الطوارق مصدر رزقهم الوحيد.

أستهداف المتظاهرين السلميين بالرصاص الحي في منطقة تين زواتين

استمرار المظاهرات في منطقة "تين زواتين" الواقعة في أقصى جنوب الجزائري وذلك لليوم الثاني على التوالي. حيث قام الجيش الجزائري “الدرك الوطني” أمس الاثنين بقتل شاب من الطوارق رميا بالرصاص الحي, ما أثار غضب سكان المدينة الذين خرجوا بعد ذلك بساعات قليلة خرج منددين بمقتل أحد أبناء مدينتهم بطريقة وصفت أنها الأسوأ منذ مقتل شاب أخر في منطقة “إنقزام” بداية شهر أكتوبر الجاري بطريقة نفسها.

صورة لاحد الجرحى المتظاهرين اليوم في تين زواتين

و تتواصل لليوم الثاني على التوالي مظاهرات حاشدة حيث خروجت عشرات من شباب المدينة إلى الشارع تنديدا بالممارسات الشنيعة التي يرتكبها الجيش الجزائري في حق المدنين العزل التي ردت عليها وحدات الشرطة التابعة لمكافحة الشغب بالرصاص الحي والغازات المسيلة للدموع مما أدى إلى إصابة أحد المتظاهرين بجروح خطيرة في أحد أرجله نقل على أثرها المصاب إلى المستشفى على الفور. وأكد أحد المتصلين بقناة "توماست" الذي فضل عدم ذكر إسمه, أنا الشرطة في المدينة  قاموا باعتقالات واسعة, شملت عدد كبير من الشباب الذين خرجوا في مظاهرات أمس واليوم, وقال أن أن مستشفى المدينة مكتظ  بالجرحى. 

وقال أن سكان المدينة مازلوا يتوافدون ويتجمعون  في أماكن مختلفة من المدينة.

جانب من المظاهرة في تين زواتين

ويرى الكثير من المتابعين والمراقبين الآمنين  للشأن الجزائري أن السلطات الجزائرية تسعى لفرض حصار وطوق أمني على سكان المنطقة من الطوارق بحجج واهية أولها محاربة تنامي الإرهاب والتطرف, الأمر الذي يراه الكثيرين مدعاة للسخرية, إذ أن الجزائر تعتبر من أكبر الداعمين للإرهاب والجماعات الإرهابية في المنطقة التي من بينها ما يسمى بتنظيم القاعدة في المغرب الإسلامي وقائدها مختار بن مختار حسب تسريبات ويكيكليس وحسب أميلات وزيرة الخارجية الامريكية السابقة هلاري كلينتون.

هذا وتشهد مناطق جنوب الجزائر هاجسا و توترا أمنيا وأزمة اقتصادية حادة قد تجر البلد نحو منزلق خطير خاصة بعد غلق الحدود أمام التجار الذين يعتمدون بشكل كامل على تجارة البضائع بين أزواد (شمال مالي) والنيجر.

يذكر أن السلطات الجزائرية أغلقت حدودها الجنوبية مع دولة أزواد الوليدة ( شمال مالي ) محاربة ومكافحة الإرهاب قبل ذلك فعلت الشيء نفسه مع حدود الشرقية مع ليبيا في 2014 إبان بداية الأهلية التي عصفت بجنوب .ليبيا بين الطوارق من جهة و التبو والقبائل المساندة لهم.

الجيش الجزائري يمارس القتل والترويع ضد الطوارق

يستمر الجيش الجزائري في أصطياد شباب الطوارق واحد تلوى الاخر كما تصطاد لارانب في صمت وتكتم رهيب كجزء من الحرب النفسية الممنهجة التي تخوضها الدولة الجزائرية المارقة ضد الطوارق في المنطقة عموما.

سيارة تابعة لدرك الوطني الجزائري

 حيث وضعت أمام سكان المنطقة ثلاثة خيارات لا غير... الاولى بطالة والثانية التهريب والثالثة القتل أو السجن.. ولا أحد  حتى الان خرج سالما دون أن يقع في هذه الثلاثية اللعينة. 

مصادرنا الخاصة تقول أن عدد الذين قتلوا في الصحراء ودفنوا بعيدا عن الانظار, أكثر بكثير من الذين تم الاعلان عنهم حتى الان

اليوم  تشهد منطقة تين ظواتين مظاهرات عارمة بعد مقتل شاب في متقبل من عمره بدم بارد من قبل الجيش الجزائري. و كان الشاب يحاول عبور الجهة الاخرى من الحدود الجزائرية نحو الحدود الازوادية ( شمال مالي حاليا) ولكن تبين فيما بعد أن الشاب المقتول كان لا يحمل سوى قوت يومه على متن سيارته المتهالكة نوع دفع رباعي تيوتا . 

صورة من مظاهرات اليوم في تين زواتين الجزائرية

وقبل ذلك بشهرين تم قتل شاب أخر والتمثيل بجثته من قبل ما يسمى بالدرك الوطني كما قامت نفس الوحدات في بداية شهر اكتوبر الجاري بقتل شاب أخر في منطقة "أنقزام" بينما كان هو الاخر يحاول عبور الحدود الجزائرية النيجرية.

بينما يتواصل المسلسل الدرامي الجزائري في ترويع وتجويع وهدر دم شعبنا, يلتزم هو الاخر بشد لثامه حول فمه.

Akli Sh’kka the man of Sahara/ Akli Sh'kka

Akli Sh’kka the man of Sahara

(Short bio)

Akli Sh’kka belongs to the indigenous people of North Africa known as the TUAREG. Besides being an experienced film maker he is now something of an 'all round Media Person'.Equipped as he is with considerable knowledge of North African affairs in general he has exceptional first hand expertise when it comes to Saharan issues. Interacting as he does with many of the countless different nomadic tribes of the Sahara: there are now very few in the whole vast area who have not yet heard of him.

Sahara Tuareg Personality of the Year:

Akli Sh'kka in his traditional outfit

At a big festival held in Libya in 2013 he was chosen in his absence, to be granted the 'honorific' title: 'Sahara Tuareg Personality of the Year’ for his important role in promoting and defending Tuareg Human Rights. Officially invited by Tuareg leaders in Niger to visit that country in 2015, besides receiving great hospitality he was personally welcomed by the Nigerian Prime Minister Mr. Brigi Rafini into his own home. Ever since 2005 he has been actively pursuing the human rights of his people, the Tuareg, on local, national &/or international stages. At first, of necessity inside Qadaffi's Libya, any projects had to take place in secret and by 2009 along with a friend, subsequently 'disappeared’ by Qadaffi's henchmen, he was making a secret amateur film that depicted the tragic plight of the Tuareg in Libya. Once government agents knew of the joint activities he himself was forced to flee the country. That was after several months of brutal imprisonment from which he finally escaped but which still affects him. The film featured the extremely hard circumstances that the Tuareg were suffering on the edge of the Saharan town of Sebha as a result of the policies of the Qaddafi regime, and decades of neglect, maltreatment and marginalisation.

Struggling in Britain and taking early initiatives:

While living in the UK he came to realise how ignorant people are in Britain about North Africa and the Sahara as well as other peoples in general. At the same time he found that nearly everyone had heard of the historical town of Timbuktu, founded by his Tuareg ancestors in the 15th century. In West Yorkshire, where he was temporarily domiciled for four or five years he was helped by a number of good English friends. After a while, with a little help from the late Daniel Russell and his host John Gaukroger he decided to establish a new Association. It was intended among other things to raise public awareness and to educate people about the Tuareg people's history and culture and about the political issues that impinge on them. The name chosen for the new body was 'The Tifinagh Association’ a name related to the ancient Tuareg script which is a form of writing that goes back to around 4,000 BC.

The Imouhag International Organisation for the Sake of Justice

and Transparency:

In 2012 he founded a more significant, more effective and more international organisation. Now called: 'The Imouhagh International Organisation for the Sake of Justice and Transparency' it is intended to ensure a single powerful and legitimate voice that can speak on behalf of the whole Tuareg people

and so gain access to the higher levels of international decision-making as well as to the most crucial governmental and non-governmental organisations.

American Journeys:

In 2016 he received official invitations to give public talks at two American Universities. These were about terrorism and about the tremendous dangers that now exist to the traditions and customs of the Tuareg people from ruthless and extremist movements that are currently increasing very rapidly. Shortly thereafter he was invited to return to the USA in order to address the 2016 'UN Forum on Indigenous Peoples' in New York. While back in America he was privileged to meet the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.

The role in the Libyan Revolution:

Not long after the start of the so called 'Arab Spring', early in the year 2011, revolutionary change reached Libya. Mr. Sh'kka was the first Tuareg to become actively involved in activities to promote a Libyan Revolution. Being himself of course from the South of Libya he was able to provide strong and

articulate verbal support towards the overthrowing of the 4-decades-long Qadaffi Regime, thanks to his ability to pro-actively use existing radio and TV channels. He quickly declared his strong support for democratic change in Libya. Media interviews on a daily basis soon resulted and quickly proliferated. Many of them were on top TV & Radio news channels, and they continue to this day from time to time. Channels have included BBC TV: both English and Arabic channels, BBC Radio 4, Al Jazeera: also in Arabic as well as English, France 24, Russia Today, Voice of America, RFI Radio, as also a lot of other stations. On several occasions, essentially on a voluntary basis, he has contributed talks and opinions to briefings and exploratory seminars or discussions at the UK Foreign Office. These have been mainly about African security issues particularly in relation to Libya.

Helping to stop a tribal war in Libya:

In 2015 a tribal war took place between certain Tuareg tribes and Black African Toubou people from the South of the Sahara. Thanks to good contacts on both sides Akli Sh'kka was able to initiate a peace campaign. A sustained attempt to stop the fighting and to call upon both sides to lay down their arms and come together peacefully for negotiations was successful. The calls were heard and found support, or at the very least consent, on both sides among those involved in the conflict. Akli himself was chosen to lead the first of two rounds of peaceful negotiations between the conflicting tribes. The talks took place in Qatar, under the supervision of the Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. A month of continual negotiations led to the declaration of a ceasefire. A good agreement was signed and subsequently implemented by both parties, with complete success at least up to present.

The Voice of Imouhagh Radio:

As a consequence of considerable ongoing involvement with media and human rights matters Akli was soon able to raise his game and realise some more ambitious goals. His recognition of the importance of good public relations grew as he realised the extraordinary influence of good media operations on people's lives and thinking, and as he became aware of the possibility of his influencing real change for the better. He started an internet radio operation in his mother tongue Tamasheq. He wished to call on his

people to really beware of all involvement in terrorist-related matters and to try to distance themselves from the truly dangerous 'bad guys' namely ISIS and Al Qaida. Using radio felt to be a good start but he gradually realised that relatively few of the nomadic Tuareg currently have ready access to the Internet. Only a handful could listen to V.I.R. broadcasts, despite the well thought out mix of popular North African music with informative and educational news and talk programmes.

Toumast TV: the first ever Tuareg TV:

Toumast TV logo

For the first time in history extremist Islamic terrorism is now flourishing around the Sahara region, increasing rapidly day by day. Although the Tuareg are well known for relative laxity in regard to the Islamic faith they have an unusually high respect for women within traditional culture. Women can hold highly respected positions in society despite the fact that some uneducated young women, as well as men, join forces with extremist groups as of course do others of different ethnicities in the region. When Akli became aware of the dangers he asked himself what could be done. His response can be summed up in the words 'Media! Media! Media!’. He organised a campaign to support a personal 'Grand Projet' using his internet radio service ‘Voice of Imouhagh' as well as various social media. He used his personal Facebook page and also Youtube, and Watsapp groups, and called on Tuareg elders throughout the Sahara as equally on educated Tuareg youth to help establish a dedicated TV channel. Hundreds of Tuareg volunteers in Libya, Niger, Algeria, Mali and around Europe collected donations and contributions to make "Toumast TV" possible and to contribute to an attempt to help build a new identity for their hitherto hidden and oppressed or subordinate nation. After six months of campaigning half a million dollars were collected and Toumast was launched using the 'Niles' Satellite as well as the Internet. Within six months of launch, an estimated 30 million people were viewing the new channel, either in the Sahara or in other parts of North Africa or Europe. Toumast then started to get more than 6 thousand SMS each day from all over the region. Unfortunately however, certain countries like Algeria did not at all like the idea of the Tuareg having a voice of their own, and one as well that could be easily heard and that might become quite influential. The outcome as a result was that the Algerian authorities first of all blocked all SMS's originating in Algeria and followed that up by putting pressure on Toumast and the station’s administration in an attempt to close it down. When they failed to get anywhere with these tactics they complained about Nilesat - the medium through which the company was broadcasting - and demanded in turn that they be shut down. As a result of all those machinations Toumast was finally obliged to stop using Nilesat but was nevertheless able to switch to broadcasting through an alternative satellite: Eutelsat. Following further unsuccessful attempts to close down that avenue, the Algerian authorities next invited the Founder/General Director Akli Sh’kka to visit Algeria. All their invitations were however turned down. Unfortunately there was not to be a happy ending to th saga: a year and a half after broadcasting their first TV programs the station did in fact eventually have to close down, simply due to the lack of adequate financial resources and any promises of enough funding to stay in business. Huge numbers of people were saddened by the closure: many people had actually named their children after 'Toumast' and hundreds of poems had been composed, many of them in praise of founder Akli and his work, as also songs sung by famous Tuareg bands like Tinariwen. The success of Toumast TV can be attributed to its varied programs in the Tuareg language, the only language which all Tuareg nomads speak even if some may also have other languages like Arabic and French. The chief purpose of the channel had been to educate and enlighten Tuareg people, with a particularly emphasis being on combating the new wave of terrorism. It manifestly threatens the unique precious and ancient culture of the Tuareg, with their many special traditions, as well of course as peace, democracy, and stability in the whole Sahara region.

Akli Sh’kka the man of Sahara/ Akli Sh'kka

Akli Sh’kka the man of Sahara

(Short bio)

Akli Sh’kka belongs to the indigenous people of North Africa known as the TUAREG. Besides being an experienced film maker he is now something of an 'all round Media Person'.Equipped as he is with considerable knowledge of North African affairs in general he has exceptional first hand expertise when it comes to Saharan issues. Interacting as he does with many of the countless different nomadic tribes of the Sahara: there are now very few in the whole vast area who have not yet heard of him.

Sahara Tuareg Personality of the Year:

Akli Sh'kka in his traditional outfit

At a big festival held in Libya in 2013 he was chosen in his absence, to be granted the 'honorific' title: 'Sahara Tuareg Personality of the Year’ for his important role in promoting and defending Tuareg Human Rights. Officially invited by Tuareg leaders in Niger to visit that country in 2015, besides receiving great hospitality he was personally welcomed by the Nigerian Prime Minister Mr. Brigi Rafini into his own home. Ever since 2005 he has been actively pursuing the human rights of his people, the Tuareg, on local, national &/or international stages. At first, of necessity inside Qadaffi's Libya, any projects had to take place in secret and by 2009 along with a friend, subsequently 'disappeared’ by Qadaffi's henchmen, he was making a secret amateur film that depicted the tragic plight of the Tuareg in Libya. Once government agents knew of the joint activities he himself was forced to flee the country. That was after several months of brutal imprisonment from which he finally escaped but which still affects him. The film featured the extremely hard circumstances that the Tuareg were suffering on the edge of the Saharan town of Sebha as a result of the policies of the Qaddafi regime, and decades of neglect, maltreatment and marginalisation.

Struggling in Britain and taking early initiatives:

While living in the UK he came to realise how ignorant people are in Britain about North Africa and the Sahara as well as other peoples in general. At the same time he found that nearly everyone had heard of the historical town of Timbuktu, founded by his Tuareg ancestors in the 15th century. In West Yorkshire, where he was temporarily domiciled for four or five years he was helped by a number of good English friends. After a while, with a little help from the late Daniel Russell and his host John Gaukroger he decided to establish a new Association. It was intended among other things to raise public awareness and to educate people about the Tuareg people's history and culture and about the political issues that impinge on them. The name chosen for the new body was 'The Tifinagh Association’ a name related to the ancient Tuareg script which is a form of writing that goes back to around 4,000 BC.

The Imouhag International Organisation for the Sake of Justice and Transparency:

In 2012 he founded a more significant, more effective and more international organisation. Now called: 'The Imouhagh International Organisation for the Sake of Justice and Transparency' it is intended to ensure a single powerful and legitimate voice that can speak on behalf of the whole Tuareg people

and so gain access to the higher levels of international decision-making as well as to the most crucial governmental and non-governmental organisations.

American Journeys:

In 2016 he received official invitations to give public talks at two American Universities. These were about terrorism and about the tremendous dangers that now exist to the traditions and customs of the Tuareg people from ruthless and extremist movements that are currently increasing very rapidly. Shortly thereafter he was invited to return to the USA in order to address the 2016 'UN Forum on Indigenous Peoples' in New York. While back in America he was privileged to meet the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.

The role in the Libyan Revolution:

Not long after the start of the so called 'Arab Spring', early in the year 2011, revolutionary change reached Libya. Mr. Sh'kka was the first Tuareg to become actively involved in activities to promote a Libyan Revolution. Being himself of course from the South of Libya he was able to provide strong and

articulate verbal support towards the overthrowing of the 4-decades-long Qadaffi Regime, thanks to his ability to pro-actively use existing radio and TV channels. He quickly declared his strong support for democratic change in Libya. Media interviews on a daily basis soon resulted and quickly proliferated. Many of them were on top TV & Radio news channels, and they continue to this day from time to time. Channels have included BBC TV: both English and Arabic channels, BBC Radio 4, Al Jazeera: also in Arabic as well as English, France 24, Russia Today, Voice of America, RFI Radio, as also a lot of other stations. On several occasions, essentially on a voluntary basis, he has contributed talks and opinions to briefings and exploratory seminars or discussions at the UK Foreign Office. These have been mainly about African security issues particularly in relation to Libya.

Helping to stop a tribal war in Libya:

In 2015 a tribal war took place between certain Tuareg tribes and Black African Toubou people from the South of the Sahara. Thanks to good contacts on both sides Akli Sh'kka was able to initiate a peace campaign. A sustained attempt to stop the fighting and to call upon both sides to lay down their arms and come together peacefully for negotiations was successful. The calls were heard and found support, or at the very least consent, on both sides among those involved in the conflict. Akli himself was chosen to lead the first of two rounds of peaceful negotiations between the conflicting tribes. The talks took place in Qatar, under the supervision of the Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. A month of continual negotiations led to the declaration of a ceasefire. A good agreement was signed and subsequently implemented by both parties, with complete success at least up to present.

The Voice of Imouhagh Radio:

As a consequence of considerable ongoing involvement with media and human rights matters Akli was soon able to raise his game and realise some more ambitious goals. His recognition of the importance of good public relations grew as he realised the extraordinary influence of good media operations on people's lives and thinking, and as he became aware of the possibility of his influencing real change for the better. He started an internet radio operation in his mother tongue Tamasheq. He wished to call on his

people to really beware of all involvement in terrorist-related matters and to try to distance themselves from the truly dangerous 'bad guys' namely ISIS and Al Qaida. Using radio felt to be a good start but he gradually realised that relatively few of the nomadic Tuareg currently have ready access to the Internet. Only a handful could listen to V.I.R. broadcasts, despite the well thought out mix of popular North African music with informative and educational news and talk programmes.

Toumast TV: the first ever Tuareg TV:

Toumast TV logo

For the first time in history extremist Islamic terrorism is now flourishing around the Sahara region, increasing rapidly day by day. Although the Tuareg are well known for relative laxity in regard to the Islamic faith they have an unusually high respect for women within traditional culture. Women can hold highly respected positions in society despite the fact that some uneducated young women, as well as men, join forces with extremist groups as of course do others of different ethnicities in the region. When Akli became aware of the dangers he asked himself what could be done. His response can be summed up in the words 'Media! Media! Media!’. He organised a campaign to support a personal 'Grand Projet' using his internet radio service ‘Voice of Imouhagh' as well as various social media. He used his personal Facebook page and also Youtube, and Watsapp groups, and called on Tuareg elders throughout the Sahara as equally on educated Tuareg youth to help establish a dedicated TV channel. Hundreds of Tuareg volunteers in Libya, Niger, Algeria, Mali and around Europe collected donations and contributions to make "Toumast TV" possible and to contribute to an attempt to help build a new identity for their hitherto hidden and oppressed or subordinate nation. After six months of campaigning half a million dollars were collected and Toumast was launched using the 'Niles' Satellite as well as the Internet. Within six months of launch, an estimated 30 million people were viewing the new channel, either in the Sahara or in other parts of North Africa or Europe. Toumast then started to get more than 6 thousand SMS each day from all over the region. Unfortunately however, certain countries like Algeria did not at all like the idea of the Tuareg having a voice of their own, and one as well that could be easily heard and that might become quite influential. The outcome as a result was that the Algerian authorities first of all blocked all SMS's originating in Algeria and followed that up by putting pressure on Toumast and the station’s administration in an attempt to close it down. When they failed to get anywhere with these tactics they complained about Nilesat - the medium through which the company was broadcasting - and demanded in turn that they be shut down. As a result of all those machinations Toumast was finally obliged to stop using Nilesat but was nevertheless able to switch to broadcasting through an alternative satellite: Eutelsat. Following further unsuccessful attempts to close down that avenue, the Algerian authorities next invited the Founder/General Director Akli Sh’kka to visit Algeria. All their invitations were however turned down. Unfortunately there was not to be a happy ending to th saga: a year and a half after broadcasting their first TV programs the station did in fact eventually have to close down, simply due to the lack of adequate financial resources and any promises of enough funding to stay in business. Huge numbers of people were saddened by the closure: many people had actually named their children after 'Toumast' and hundreds of poems had been composed, many of them in praise of founder Akli and his work, as also songs sung by famous Tuareg bands like Tinariwen. The success of Toumast TV can be attributed to its varied programs in the Tuareg language, the only language which all Tuareg nomads speak even if some may also have other languages like Arabic and French. The chief purpose of the channel had been to educate and enlighten Tuareg people, with a particularly emphasis being on combating the new wave of terrorism. It manifestly threatens the unique precious and ancient culture of the Tuareg, with their many special traditions, as well of course as peace, democracy, and stability in the whole Sahara region.