Ineffable Magazine n°11

THE OULED NAIL. DEFENSE BRACELETS BY SARAH CORBETT
Her Jewelry… Her Life
For a Nailiya dancer, her jewelry was more than a
simple, shiny object for decoration. In many ways, it
represented her life. The large golden girdle around
her waist and the coin necklaces she wore in layers
provided proof of her success as a dancer. Also,
for security reasons, the Nailiya always had to wear
her entire fortune to keep it on her, making her a
walking target for thieves. This led to many incidents
of robbery where dancers were murdered for their
valuable treasures. To defend themselves, the Ouled
Nail started wearing weapons in the form of jewelry.
A studded bracelet, also known as the swar, with its
intricate engraving and spiked cuff, was a dancer’s
weapon of choice, her only means of defense against
attackers.
illustration par : Souleyman Sandid
Novembre • Décembre • Janvier 2019/20 - ineffable
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