Takarkori individuals derive majority ancestry from previously unknown North African lineage. This lineage diverged from sub-Saharan African lineages around Out-of-Africa time. Lineage remained isolated throughout most of its history. Takarkori closely related to 15,000-year-old Taforalt foragers. Both Takarkori and Taforalt equally distant from sub-Saharan lineages. No detectable sub-Saharan gene flow into North Africa during African Humid Period. Pastoralism spread to Sahara via cultural diffusion, not migration. Takarkori shows 0.15% Neanderthal ancestry, ten times less than Levantine farmers, more than sub-Saharans. Taforalt ancestry is 60% Natufian plus 40% Takarkori-like North African, not sub-Saharan. Sahara desert blocked genetic exchange despite Green Sahara phases. Takarkori closer to Out-of-Africa ancestry than sub-Saharan Mota. Fulani herders show elevated affinity to Takarkori ancestry. mtDNA places Takarkori on basal N haplogroup splitting 61,000 years ago. Admixture graph shows 93% Takarkori from unknown North African source related to OoA. Levantine admixture into Takarkori is only 7%.