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Niger, at the crossroads between Arab-Berber Africa and Sudan-Sahelian Africa is a crucible where people of diverse origins have lived together for thousands of years. Although each of these peoples maintains its own individuality, particularly noticeable in their life-styles, physical features, customs, dress, language and outlook, today they are welded into several quite distinct major groups, each with an internal homogeneity. A first major distinction may be drawn between the black populations, the main settled farmers, and the white populations, principally nomadic.
Nomadic populations live mainly in the northern part of the country and comprise: The Tuaregs (8%), to be found within a long strip of land running from the Mali border in the West to Gouré in the East, and The Fulani (8.5%), who, together with their herds, are concentrated in the Dosso-Agadez-Maine-Soroa triangle. Some have also settled in the West, around Téra, Say and Niamey and they predominate in certain parts of Maradi, Tessaoua, Mirriah and Magaria Districts, where they live alongside Tuaregs and Toubous.
The Nomads:
The Tuaregs, despite their remarkable cultural and linguistic unity (their writing is called Tifinar and their language, Tamjaq, is related to Tamazight), are split into several tribes in Niger, the main ones of which are the Kel-Aïr, living mostly in the Aïr; the Kel-Gress, today concentrated in the Madaoua and Konni regions; the Iwilli-Minden, who live in the Azawak region; and the Immouzourak, with Tanout as their stronghold.
In historical times, the Tuaregs were fearsome warriors, living mainly from raiding. Their social organization is based on classes: bords, marabouts (Muslim priest) and artisans. Matriarchy is the rule. Women are usually literate, play musical instruments; they value corpulence, and jewelry is an important feature of their attire. Women play an important role in social life, are held in much esteem and consulted on many important issues. Marriages are monogamous, but divorce exists. The traditional shelter is the tent. Clothes are flowing and a veil or cloth is usually worn over the face by adults. The main diet is composed of milk, dates and millet. The Tuaregs, who typically live side by side with Bouzous and Bella, usually raise camels and goats in the Saharan zone, and sheep and cattle in the Sahel. Traditionally they cover considerable distances with their herds, but unfortunately the drought of recent years and the resulting reduction of grazing land, coupled with the development of mining in the Agadez region, is slowly but surely inducing the Tuaregs to lead a settled life. Many engage in market gardening in the oasis and seek temporary employment in the mining areas.The Fulani form the second largest nomadic group in Niger. Like the Tuaregs, they also have long-standing customs and traditions which are very much alive today. But in spite of their great concern to maintain their specific social structure, they have often come under the influence of neighboring populations so much so that the Fulani in one area may differ slightly from those of another, depending on where and with whom they live. Ethnic unity, however, is never destroyed.
Within this major category, there are the Bororodjis, often referred to as Bororo Fulani, living in the Dakoro-Tanout region, who are all nomadic herders spending the entire year seeking good grazing. They practice the cult of beauty and pay great attention to bodily care, expending considerable effort on enhancing the attractiveness of their faces, adding sparkle to eyes and teeth. They have an amazing taste for decoration, though it is mainly the men who spend most of their time in such pursuits. Clothing, on the contrary, is relatively scanty, though here again the taste for decoration is apparent in the amount of jewelry worn: earrings, intricate hairstyles interwoven with coins, bead necklaces and multicolored charms.
Faithful to their ancestral paganism, the Bororos, whose deep attachment to their herds seem to have links with ancient eastern cults, have been only very superficially marked by Islam and usually only accept conversion once passed the age of forty. They therefore have their own particular conception of certain social institutions, such as marriage. The young Bororo must first seduce his fiancée and then arrange to kidnap her from her family. The couple then embarks on a journey which takes them all over the region and sometimes beyond the country's borders. They will decide to settle once the "wife" has become a mother and when she feels that she has traveled enough and is tired of this bohemian existence.
Every year the Bororos organize a traditional and colorful festival known as the Guérewol, which is the occasion for celebrations, engagements, kidnappings of wives, and baptisms.
The Settled Populations:
Leaving the north of the country to the nomads, the settled populations occupy the southern strip between the border with Nigeria and the 12-inch isohyet, in the zone where agriculture is possible.
The Songhaï and the Zarma (22%), in the west of Niger, are usually considered to form one single people, but their history has not always followed the same path.
The Songhaï are fishermen and canoers, along the banks of the river. They have a prestigious past with illustrious emperors, such as Soni Ali-Ber, Askia Mohamed Touré and Askia Daoud who made glorious and unforgettable contributions to the pages of Africa's history.
The Zarma are said to have originated in Macina and Egypt and are now mainly concentrated in Zarmaganda. They adopted the language of the Songhaï and then moved southwards in search of fertile land. Today they form the majority of the population of Niamey and its surroundings, and of Boboye and Dosso. Many also live in the districts of Filingué, Tillabéry, Say and Gaya.
Great warriors in the pre-colonial era, the Songhaï and the Zarma are today mainly farmers engaged in agriculture and small-scale breeding. One feature of their civilization is the tolerant nature of their Islamic conversion; certain animist practices dating to a very ancient ancestor worship are still maintained. Traditional housing is the round house, often made entirely of straw. The Hausa (56%) live in central Niger, between Dongondoutchi and Zinder. They are probably the descendants of Saharan populations who were driven southwards by the Tuaregs. Today they are the major ethnic group, forming over half the population of Niger. Although one cannot speak of a truly homogeneous ethnic group, a common bond is the language, Hausa, often written in Arabic characters. Hausas enjoy a considerable reputation as farmers (growing millet and peanuts), and as leather and textile craftsmen. Many are also traders.
In Niger, the Hausas are divided into a number of groups:
The Kourfeyaoua or Soudje, who live in the Filingué District, are said to have originated in the Maine-Soroa region and lived for a period in the Adar Tahoua. They not only speak Hausa but nearly all of them also speak Zarma;
The Maouri, who live in the Arewa region, between Filingué. Dosso, Adar Tahoua and Konni. This is a very fertile area, and the Maouri are well-known for their hardworking spirit;
The Adaroua, as their name indicates, live in the Adar; and
in addition there are the Goviraou (from Gobir) and the Katinaoua (Maradi, Tessaoua) the Damagaaoua (from Damgaram or Zinder) and several other groups, almost all of whom have taken the name of the region they inhabit.
The Kanouri (4.3%) live in the eastern part of Niger (between Zinder and Lake Chad). The Hausa, alongside whom they frequently live, often call them the Beriberi. The origins of the Kanouri are an amalgam of several other groups. Among them are the Manga, Mobeurs, Kanembous, Boudouma, Dagara and their respective subgroups. The Kanouri are expert salt processors, and some are highly successful fishermen and herders.
The Toubous of Niger (1.2%) are spread out between the area north of Gouré, north of Guigmi and Kaouar. They form a small minority and are supposed to have originated in the rocky regions of Tibesti. Although generally black-skinned, they are probably of mixed black and white race. Toubous have a taste for exploits and adventure, for arms and expeditions. They have a strong sense of independence. Of the thousand or so who live in Niger, some belong to the Kecherda group, leading a semi-nomadic existence. They are excellent caravan leaders, good herders and hunters. The other group, the Wandalla, are almost all settled farmers today.
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