1.
Republic of Niger By: Lisa Coward
2. Map of Niger • Niger is south of the Sahara Desert. East of Niger is Cameroon and Chad.
North of Niger is Algeria and Libya. West of Niger is Mali, Burkina Faso, and Benin. Southwest
of Niger is the Niger River.
3. Geographic Features & Climate • The main geographic features is about 2/3 desert and
mountains and 1/3 savanna. • The climate of Niger is hot, dry, and dusty. The rainy season is
in June through September.
4. Evidence indicates that about 600,000 years ago, the nomadic Tuaregs inhabited the
desolate Sahara of northern Niger. Before the arrival of French influence and control, Niger
was an important crossroad to the empires of Songhai, Mali, Gao, Kanem, Bornu, and a
number of Hausa states. Afterwards, there were frequent rebellions, but when order was
restored in 1922, the French made the area a colony. In 1958, the voters approved the French
Constitution and voted to make the territory an autonomous republic within the French
community. In 1959, the republic adopted a constitution, but the next year withdrew from the
community, proclaiming it’s independence. History of Niger
5. Government • Had a republic government • President and chief of state: Mamadou Tandja •
Prime minister: Hama Amadou • Ambassador to the U.S: Aminata Maiga Djibrilla Toure
6. Economy • In the 1970’s, the economy flourished from uranium production, but then in the
1980’s uranium prices fell. Then there was a drought that lasted for 8 years. • An estimated of
2 million people were starving , but 200,000 tons of imported food, half U.S supplied,
substantially ended famine conditions.
7. Capital & Population • Capital: Niamey • Population: 15,306,252
8. Area in Sq. Miles • Total: 1.267 million sq. km. (489,189 sq. mi.) • Land: 1,266,700 sq. km.
(489,072 sq. mi.) • Water: 300 sq. km.
9. Major Languages • French • Hausa • Djerma
10. Life Expectancy • Total Population: 56.2 years ~ 56 years • Male: 51.39 years ~ 51 years •
Female: 58.85 years ~ 59 years
11. Main Exports • Uranium ore • livestock • cow peas • onions
12. Ethnic groups • Haoussa: 55.4% • Djerma Sonrai: 21% • Tuareg: 9.3% • Peuhl: 8.5% •
Kanouri Manga: 4.7% • Other: 1.2%
13. Health- Infant Mortality Rate • Total: 116.66 deaths /1000 live births • Male: 121.72 deaths
/1000 live births • Female: 111.45 deaths /1000 live births
14. Flag of Niger • Three equal horizontal bands of orange of orange (top), white, and green with
a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band, similar to the flag in
India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band.
15. Arts • The Djerma women make pottery especially earthenware water jars. • The Songhai
makes blankets and weave mats. • Tuareg artisans make excellent jewelry made out of silver
with elaborate motifs, do leatherwork with beautiful designs, sculpt wood and make them
useful utensils, tent equipment, and saddles.
16. Music • In any Nigerian social event, playing music and singing are important elements. •
Music is used to celebrate births, weddings, circumcisions, and for religious holidays. • The
musicians and the audiences share in this performance to experience a communal activity
and to express their feelings. • Women play instruments too but they play traditional
instruments except the flute.
17. Food • The traditional meal consists of porridge, pancakes, or pastes from flour. • The
Nigeriens eat porridge for breakfast, pancakes, for lunch, and pastes topped with other
ingredients and sauces in the evening.
18. Gurara falls in Bornu Village Zugarma Park Shiroro Hydroelectric dam Mungo Park’s
Centotaph Bida Town Kainji Lake National Games Park Major Tourists Attraction
19. My Citations • "Niger Map." Photograph. 9 Apr. 2009. Information Channel.9 Apr. 2009
<[Link] • "Niger flag." Photograph. 2000. Rebirth Africa Life on the
Continent.9 Apr. 2009 <[Link] •
[Link] •
[Link] • Seffal, Rabah. Cultures of the World: Niger. Marshall
Cavendish Corporation, NY: a member of the Times Publishing Group, 2000