Origin: Aïr Highlands, Republic of Niger
Dating: early XXI century

According to the definition of the PWN Polish Language Dictionary, a whip is "a leather thong or a rope on a rod used to urge animals". In Polish, in fact, the words whip and lash often function as synonyms, but it is assumed that the whip is used to arrange animals, and the lash was used to punish people. So what is an alekkod and what is it used for actually?

Although it is difficult to unequivocally define the alekkod due to its various uses, it seems that the best way is to describe it as a singletail whip. As you can see, it is too short to whip-cracking, moreover, it is devoid of the so-called popper, which is responsible for the characteristic sound made when hitting a whip.

The alekkod is made of intertwined strips of camel skin. Not all Tuaregs' whips are as richly decorated as the one on display. The decorative form may, therefore, prove its destiny in the tourist market. Tuareg people use whips primarily when riding camels, but they can also be used as tools for lashing and as attributes during the dance.

Interestingly, unlike other Berber nations, Tuareg music is mainly the domain of women playing imzhad - a violin-like string instrument (the exception is Mali, where men play instruments and sing). Tuareg weddings in particular are characterized by unique musical styles and a kind of special dance called ilkan performed by Tuareg men from lower society (descendants of former slaves) who wave their whips during it.

Bibiliography:

- informacje nt. obiektu uzyskane dzięki uprzejmości kolekcjonera, A. Rybińskiego
- Bat (bicz), [w:] www.sjp.pwn.pl (strona Słownika Języka Polskiego PWN), link: https://sjp.pwn.pl/slowniki/bat.html [dostęp: 28.01.2022].

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The purchase is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport as part of the National Institute of Museums and Collections' own program "Expansion of museum collections".