Niger is a landlocked West African country, with an area of 1,267,000 square kilometers and a population of 22 million. Both geographically and culturally, Niger can be considered as being at the junction of North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The ethnic diversity of the country and the modes of subsistence of its peoples also reflect this situation: On the one hand, Tubu, Arab, Fulani, and Tuareg ethnic groups are traditionally nomads, and on the other hand, Hausa, Songhai-Zarma, Kanuri, and Gurmance peoples are sedentary agriculturalists.

Historically, the peoples of Niger are among the founders of some of the greatest empires of medieval West Africa, such as Kanem-Bornu, Songhai, and the Fulani empire of Usman Dan Fodio. Economically, Niger is regularly ranked as the least developed ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles