Niger Nomads

In Niger, where a man's wealth is measured by the number of his cattle come a time that many of the nomadic Tuaregs are willing to sell their last camel to survive.

On the market throughout the Niger hungry people sell not less hungry animals for half price. Thus they deprive themselves of the opportunity for a normal life tomorrow, just to buy food for their starving children today. This state of affairs is a sign that the economy is broke, do not withstand the impact of droughts, going one after another.

This community for so many attracted to animals that even the local children play with miniature camels and cows, carved out of stone. Animals for men solve disputes, provide a dowry of their daughters and leave an inheritance to his sons. Last sale for the local nomad camel means the same thing as selling a house or car, to remove any remaining money from the bank account to buy the necessary food.

1 Sellers animals leave berms, 200 km north of Maradi, Niger, 17 July 2012. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Merchant House stands near the door at the livestock market in the berm, 200 km north of Maradi. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Young shepherd walking among cattle in the field, located 15 km from the berms. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Tuareg nomads show each other their traditional swords and good luck amulets around clothing stalls at the market in the berm.

Nomads go on the food market in the berm. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Nomads on the market in the berm. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Tuaregs are coming to market in the berm for cattle trade. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

 Nomad riding a camel leaves the cattle market in the berm. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Seller cattle market in berms. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

 Niger tax collector records the number of units sold camels. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Nomads are going on the market for cattle trade. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Nomads collect things to leave the market. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Merchant shows teeth camel potential buyer. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

 Merchant is just bought sheep to their new owner. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

 Nomadic Tuareg comes with two shepherds from the tribe peul to spend his last deal. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Shepherd family prepares dinner on the field near the berm. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Nomads stopped for the night in the field between Dakoro and berms.  From generation to generation, the nomads were dependent on sky above.  As soon as the first rains, they head north to the Sahara desert, where the grass is, according to them, it becomes more salty and contains minerals. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Tuareg women on donkeys Sakabal leave the village, 220 km north of Maradi.  80 percent of people in Niger and 100 percent of the rural population depends on livestock, including the breeding of camels, cows, sheep and goats. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

 Negotiations for the sale Tuareg camels at the livestock market in Sakabale. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Tuareg and peuly laugh at the time of the transaction in the market Sakabale. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

The buyer uses a mobile phone during the transaction at the livestock market in Sakabale. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

 Traders and nomads shelter from the hot sun in Sakabale. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

 A man from the tribe of peul is severed goat heads, which local residents are considered a delicacy. The picture was taken in the village Sakabal. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

Animal bones piled up near the market in Sakabale. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)

 

 Bought goats being loaded into a truck in Sakabale. (AP / Jerome Delay) (AP / Jerome Delay)