Amenukal (Berber: ⵎⵏⴾⵍ, ⴰⵎⵏⵓⴽⴰⵍ) is a title for the highest Tuareg traditional chiefs; he is the head of an "ettebel" (drums, command...) and chosen from among the few relatives of the deceased amenokal. The term amenokal means "supreme chief, king, emperor". European observers have proposed several words to describe the scope of an amenokal's command (ettebel): confederation, political grouping, or "drum groups".
Sources and references
- Ilahiane, Historical Dictionary of the Berbers (Imazighen), The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
- WorldStatesmen article on Niger