Yesterday, I showed the manuscript to a couple in Burkina who are experts on the Tuareg. They pointed out that Usman dan Fodio was in fact an eighteenth century Fulani mystic and reformer - leader of the jihad in Hausaland. Many Muslims in northern Nigeria still consider his name too holy even to pronounce - so best not imply that he was a camel thief.

They suggested that the names Yusuf ag Litni or Moosa ag Litni would be more appropriate for a Tuareg bandit. Which do you prefer?