Le Niger

By: Aloizio Costa Junior, Jerrell Handley, and Donny Carter

L'indépendance du Niger

• Independence: Le Trois Août, Mille Neuf Cent Soixante.

• Gained independence from France.

• It created a republic within a greater French community in 1958, and independence followed in 1960.

Langues

•French•Hausa

Information Sur Niger

• Niger is located by Chad, Libya, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria.

• The capital of Niger is Niamey.

• Niger is in the continent of Africa.

Coup Du Niger

• The Coup happened around February 18, 2010

• Niger President Mamadou Tandja has been seized by mutinous soldiers during a coup attempt in Niger’s capital.

• He was attacked inside the presidential palace in Niamey, during a government meeting.

Danses du Niger

• Dances in the country of Niger are comprised of various forms and statures.

• The people interested in the dance forms of Niger have the privilege of joining the Nigerien traditional dance troupe.

• It is very dynamic, rich and magnetic phenomenon.• Dances vary from acrobatic dance groups that are

available for feature performances, workshops, festivals, and dance lessons to more subtle dancers that perform during mourning.

Danses du Niger (contin.)

• Their dance steps and gestures are agile, graceful, admirable, and elegant.

• The dance steps are coordinated and integrated art of movement which is controlled by the rhythm of music.

• Nigerien traditional dance tends to express situations, emotions, sentiments, and beliefs.

La Nourriture au Niger

• The major spices used by the cooks in Niger are the following: Saffron, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves

• These spices were introduced to the kitchens of Niger by the Arabian travelers to the country.

• These spices added to the cuisine of Niger make them immensely delicious and rich in taste.

• One of the popular recipes of Niger is grilled meat, which is famous for the spices it is marinated with.

Recette

Peanut Chicken from NigerIngredients:2 lbs chicken breasts (whole) 1-1 1/2 large onions, chopped 2 large garlic cloves, minced 16 ounces of tomato sauce 16 ounces of whole tomatoes, drained 8 ounces of smooth peanut butter 1-3 teaspoons of cayenne (to taste) peanut oil

Cinq Mots

• Minced garlic = l’ail émincé

• Tomatoes = des tomates

• Flour = la flarine

• Peanut Butter = la beurre d’arachides

• Butter = la beurre

La musique du Niger

• Hausa, Beriberi, Songhai, Djerma, Dendi, Fula, Wodaabe, and Tuareg traditions have begun to form a mixture of styles since the 1960s.

• The Tuareg are known for romantic, informal sung/spoken love poetry performed by both men and women

• The Fula and Wodaabe (largely a nomadic desert subgroup of Fula) keep alive traditions of group singing

La musique du Niger (contin.)

• The region around the capital of Niamey is inhabited by Djerma and Songhai who play, generally solo, a variety of lutes(Molo), flutes and fiddles.

La Religion

• Niger is predominately Islamic• In Niger, Muslims follow the teachings of the Qur’an which is

the main religious book• The Five Pillars of Islam are duties that are mandatory for all

Muslims. • Shadah • Salat• Zakat• Sawm• Hajj (to Mecca) – An annual pilgrimage to Mecca which must

be taken once in their lifetime

Shadah

• Shadah = Faith

• Islamic faith means to know and believe without suspicion

• Islamic beliefs show Allah as a god and Muhammad as a prophet

Salat

• Salat = Formal Prayer• Prayer is performed at 5 different times during the

day• They are near dawn, noon, afternoon, after sunset,

and around nightfall

Zakat

• Zakat = Almsgiving• Giving a small percentage of one’s possessions

to the poor and needy• This is similar to donating charity funds as we

do in America

Sawm

• Sawm = Fasting• Fasting is abstinence from eating, drinking,

and sexual intercourse• Islamic people practice this primarily during

the holy month of Ramadan• The reason that people fast is to experience

what the needy and hungry feel• There are also other voluntary days of fasting

that occur throughout the Muslim calendar

Hajj• Hajj = Pilgrimage• A hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca which must be

taken at least once in an Islamic person’s lifetime• Casualties have occurred during hajj and the worst of

these incidents happened during the Stoning of the Devil ritual

• Stoning of the Devil is an annual ritual of pilgrims throwing pebbles at a pillar in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

• This ritual reenacts Abraham's pilgrimage to Mecca• In 2006, approximately 600 pilgrims died performing a

hajj

Huit questions

• What is the capital of Niger?• What continent is Niger in?• What two main languages does Niger speak?• What is Niger’s main religion?• What is butter in French?• Name a major spice used by Nigerien cooks?• What year did Niger gain independence?• Who did Niger gain independence from?