Honor

Niger, Sekhiret, West of the Aïr mountains, january 1980

Experiencing how Touareg express consideration to their interlocutor....

Trough a specific way when holding the hand.

In fact, to be exact, they don't "shake" the hand: the thumb remains free and the four fingers of the right hand "grab the ones of the interlocutor".

Then moving back the arm, fingers get free and clap the palm of the hand.

Touareg usually wear silver rings, so it ends up with the light music made when rings hit each other.

The one of the higher honorary rank decides how many times he "shakes" the hand of his interlocutor.

When two chiefs of tribes meet, it can be repeated many, many times, up to 21 - what I witnessed.. 

Shot: Kodakrome slide, Camera Voigtländer-Zeiss 24/36mm of my Father - low density scan of the damaged original slide.