User:T L Miles/NorthernSonghayspeakers

The Idaksahak people (var.: Dausahaq, Daosahaq, Daoussahaq, Daoussak, Dawsahaq) are a Berber pastoralist population centered around Menaka and Inékar town in Meneaka Cercle and Talataye in Ansongo Cercle of the Gao Region of northeastern Mali. They speak the Northern Songhai derived Tadaksahak language. Many also speak Western Tawallammat Tamajaq language, the Tuareg language of southern Gao. The Idaksahak are a former dependant faction of local Tuareg Iwellemmeden, formerly serving as maraboutic (relgious experts) and livestock minders for higher caste Tuareg factions. Despite this history, they predated the Tuareg in the region, and even the Songhay Empire, from which they took their language. The Idaksahak, like the related Igdalan "were among the first Berbers to migrate to sub-Saharan Africa, sometime between the 8th and 9th centuries" and were among the first Muslim groups in the area. They now include both sedentary patastoralists and town dwellers, as well as sesonally nomadic pastoralists, herding cattle, goats, and camels from Mali through southern Algeria and northwest Niger. Transhmance patterns continue to take them into the area of Niger inhabated by the Igdalan related Isawaghan: sedentary Northern Songhay speakers of Ingal Niger. The Malian population of Idaksahak is estimated at 30,000. Idaksahak share with Tuareg a three part caste system of "free masters" (i-dáksahak), "craftspeople" (ʒeem-án) and the "captives/slaves" (ṭaam-én). The name i-dáksahak means "sons of Issac". The Idaksahak are Muslim, although many maintain pre-Islamic beliefs and practices. In Menaka and Ansongo, the Idaksahak live amongst populations of the Igdalan, the Kel Essouk Tuareg, Ihatan Songhay, and Berberiche Arab factions.