Afrca 2000

Niger

The early history of Niger is intimately linked to ancient and powerful African empires. These included the great Songhai dynasties, the Fulani empires and the glorious superpower – the empire of Mali.Niger’s contemporary history as a nation state however, has its origins in the scramble for Africa as various parts of the continent began to be sliced away by competing European colonial powers.
Niger, (goes the Eurocentric viewpoint), was discovered’ by European explorers in the late 18th century. The revelation soon came to the attention of the French who already had interests in neighboring Mali (French Sudan) as well as in other locations scattered across Africa.
The Tuareg people, who at present make up about 8% of Niger’s population, along with other tribes, heroically resisted the French encroachment for nearly two decades. However, the French managed to establish themselves and Niger become part of French Africa.
Like many of its neighbors, Niger became independent in 1960 and remained out of the international limelight for the next three decades until 1993 brought winds of change as democracy was allowed free reign. For the first time in modern Nigerien history, an opposition party leader, Mahamane Ousmane, won presidential elections.
Niger has like other African nations, had to deal with domestic unrest chiefly in the form of tribal rebellions among its ethnically diverse population. The nomadic Tuareg of the north, a Berber people, had launched a bloody insurrection in 1990 lasting up to 1995 when a peace accord brought stability. Niger’s experiment in multiparty politics was delivered a blow when in 1996, just three years of democracy later, a coup brought the military to power, after disputed presidential elections. More unrest followed in 1999 when General Ibrahim Bare Mainassara was killed . Elections were held in November of the same year, this time with a brand new constitution which was accepted via a national referendum. A civilian administration was restored.

Facts and Figures

Location-Interior of North Africa, Libya and Algeria on north, Mali and Burkina Faso on west, Benin and Nigeria on south, Chad on east.
Area-1,267,000 sq km
Topography-Mainly arid desert and mountains, modest savanna in south and Niger River basin in Southwest.
Population-12,525,094
Distribution - 23 % urban
Ethnic Make-up-Hausa, Djerma, Fula, Tuareg, Beri-Beri (Kanouri)
Languages –French(official), Hausa, Djerma, Julani (all native)
Religions –Muslim, others
Capital City – Niamey, pop 850,000
Government Type – Republic
Head of State – President Mamadou Tandja, since 1999
Head of Government – PM. Hana Amadou, since 2000
Currency – CFA Franc 512.27 = $ 1 US
Gross Domestic Product - $ 11.3 bln
Per Capita GDP -$ 900
Economy –Uranium mining, cement, brick, textiles. chemicals, chickpeas, peanuts, millet
Electricity Production – 230 mln kwh
Literacy – 29%
Life Expectancy – 43.8 male, 43.7 female
AIDS Rate – 1.1 %
Airports – 9
Vehicles – 100,000 units
Telephones – 24,100 lines
Radios – 36 per 1000 people
TV sets – 15 sets per 1000.
Daily Newspaper Circulation – 0.2 per 1000 people
Internet – 24,000 users

Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication and may not necessarily be the most accurate.

Bihu, “King of Indian Folk Dances”swings tomorrow

By Kirubel Tadesse

Bihu is one of the most famous folk dances from India’s north eastern state of Assam. A Bihu Folk Dance Troupe, called Shri Abastab Gosthi, led by renowned dancer Hitesh Deka has arrived here to perform in five cities. Introducing the troupe at the Sangam Restaurant, the Embassy of India on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 disclosed that the troupe is scheduled to perform on November 12 and 17, 2007 at the National Theatre in Addis and then tour Adama, Awassa, Harar and Dire Dawa. Rashmirekha Kalita, among the most youthful and charming members of the troupe, told Capital that she is looking forward to performing in front of Ethiopian audiences and to displaying her culture, which she said always makes her proud. Another young and equally stunning member, Sukanya Deka, added, “Even if our films are very popular around the world, we have many more exciting and beautiful artistic works the world does not know that much about. I hope our performances can contribute to showing that colorful part of India.”Bihu dances are performed to the accompaniment of a variety of musical instruments such as drums, harps, clappers and cymbals. The song, dance and the orchestra provide a perfect synthesis to this splendid art form. Boys and girls wear beautiful costumes made of indigenous golden silk fabric called Muga, found in Assam. While the male dancers wear typical Assamese dresses and headgears, the female danseuses wear silver and gold ornaments and accessories. Bihu dance is performed in India during the month of April to welcome the advent of the spring season, which symbolizes the beginning of the Assamese New Year. Bihu Iore is associated with love of nature, romance and merriment. During the picturisation, dancers express their inner feelings through the medium of music and dance postures. Shri Abstab Gosthi is scheduled to provide enthralling performance to captivate the mind and moods of discerning dance aficionados in Ethiopia. Shri Abastab Gosthi has flown to Ethiopia to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of India’s independence and the new Ethiopian Millennium.

Japanese embassy celebrates Bon-odori Festival

By Andualem Sisay

The Embassy of Japan in Addis Ababa, along with the cooperation of volunteers and dance fans of the Japanese community here hosted a Bon-odori Festival, a traditional Japanese dance, on Monday, November 5, 2007.
The Japanese celebrate this dance festival to welcome the ancestral spirits on their annual one day return to the terrestrial world and to bid them farewell on their departure to the celestial world.
The following day, a preview of a Japanese music concert was also performed by a modern music group, Co-Chi, meaning ‘easterly wind in the spring season’, at the National Theatre. The group which plays traditional Japanese drums and flutes is visiting Addis Ababa to bring a sense of spring and a taste of modern Japan to the Ethiopian Millennium.
The Co-Chi group consists of renowned musicians who have been acclaimed for their creative performances. They have chosen Addis Ababa as one of the first cites on their international tour through Africa, which is sponsored by the Japan Foundation.