Advisor to the Sultan of Agadez, Niger This advisor to the Sultan of Agadez is swathed in yards of costly indigo cloth. His turban-veil-alacho signifies the attainment of manhood and commands respect for himself and his forefathers. The alacho also preserves modesty, for a Tuareg man must always cover his nose and mouth in public; failure to do so is the height of disrespect. Sewn from dozens of narrow cotton strips and colored with indigo plant pulp, the veil tints everything it touches, including the skin, which is why Tuaregs are called "the blue men of the desert."
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