Tuareg Festival in the Libyan Desert

A Tuareg man in the Libyan desert during the 19th Ghat Festival of Culture and Tourism, in Ghat, about 1,360km (845 miles) south of Tripoli December 28, 2013. In the annual event, Tuareg tribes from the region and tourists meet to celebrate Tuareg traditional culture, folklore and heritage. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Tuareg boy stands next to a camel in the desert during the 19th Ghat Festival of Culture and Tourism. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Camels graze in the desert during the 19th Ghat Festival of Culture and Tourism. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Tuareg men with their camels in the desert during the Ghat Festival. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Passing by in all their finery. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Tuareg band performs folkloric songs during the festival. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Murzuq band performs a popular song at the 19th Ghat Festival. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Colourfully dressed Murzuq band members mid-performance. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/ReutReuters

A Murzuq band member observes proceedings. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Folkloric song in the great outdoors. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Performing a traditional dance. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Circling for the traditional dance. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Dancing in line. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Preparing the tea in the bush. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Queens of the desert. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Tuareg band performs a traditional dance. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A woman weaves a basket from palm fronds. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Tuareg man walks down the stairs in the alleys of the old city of Ghat. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Tuareg women rest in a tent. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Tuareg man stands in the desert. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Tuareg family outside their tent. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Tuareg couple in their tent. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

A Tuareg man and daughter in the desert. Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

•culled from www.irishtimes.com