Ranked as the poorest of all nations, Niger faces serious challenges to development due to its landlocked position, desert terrain, poor education and poverty of its people, lack of infrastructure, poor health care, and environmental degradation.
From a population point of view, over half the population of Niger belong to the Hausa, sedentary farmers who live in the arable, southern tier of the country. They, obviously, dominate both the political and economic scene.
About 20% of the population is nomadic or semi-nomadic mainly raising livestock. With rapidly growing populations and the consequent competition for meager natural resources, lifestyles of agriculturalists and livestock herders have come increasingly into conflict in Niger in recent years.
The Touareg are one of these nomadic groups, weakened by the fact that they are spread over various countries.
Tourism in Niger has come to a halt since 2002 and for the Touareg ( and not only for them ), it meant the end of their too often only source of income.
I met Amani, Touareg and now father of 4 kids, back in 2002, while I was travelling the region with 3 other friends from Brussels. I had been fascinated with touareg culture since childhood and never dared to imagine I'd ever come close to them, not even in my wildest dreams.
Amani lives in Agadez, the largest city in the north and considered the capital of the Touaregs.
Amani is a traditional touareg jewelry maker and teaches in his hometown too. He is one of the happy few to travel to Europe where he sells his jewels. Judging by the quality of his work, Amani is one of the best. His jewels are a combination of raw silver, ebony and semi-precious stones. He makes rings, earrings, hangers, bracelets, book page dividers... Given the use of expensive materials and the fact that all of his jewels are handmade, e work comes as a bargain.
A selection of Amani's work can be seen and bought online via his Les Bijoux d'Amani FB page.
I wanted to share my insights for it is the little I can do to help, to help prevent one amazingly rich culture escape from extinction. Maybe you can help too.
Amani is a traditional touareg jewelry maker and teaches in his hometown too. He is one of the happy few to travel to Europe where he sells his jewels. Judging by the quality of his work, Amani is one of the best. His jewels are a combination of raw silver, ebony and semi-precious stones. He makes rings, earrings, hangers, bracelets, book page dividers... Given the use of expensive materials and the fact that all of his jewels are handmade, e work comes as a bargain.
A selection of Amani's work can be seen and bought online via his Les Bijoux d'Amani FB page.
I wanted to share my insights for it is the little I can do to help, to help prevent one amazingly rich culture escape from extinction. Maybe you can help too.