The Tamesna Festival, held annually since 2013, is dedicated to young nomads: culture, peace and security. The most vulnerable population in northern Niger are the young people who are heading into an adult life with few possibilities for earning a living. They love their home and rarely want to leave, given the risks: crossing the largest and harshest desert in the world to arrive in countries in chaos like Libya and Nigeria, who have more wealth due to their oil production, but are lawless. The activities open to them usually involve their knowledge of the desert. This is attractive to drug and human traffickers and terrorists. These young people, if they have no other opportunity are the greatest risk to the stability of the country. They are also its greatest potential asset. That is why we want to attract their attention and encourage them to stay home. The nomadic festivals are the only opportunity during the year when nomads can regroup and problems can be addressed and at the same time celebrate their rich culture. This year the festival was a little smaller than last because our festival organizer was unexpectedly called to be mayor of Ingall. This took too much of Sidi’s time and left not enough to organize the camels and some of the other cultural spectacles. But the word was out to the youth to bring in their organizations to talk about and address their problems.
Nomadic hospitality is legend. Guests are king and the maximum effort must be made to make them comfortable.
Tuareg tents were set up for people to sleep
Mattresses were delivered
Aya prepares a stew for the dignitaries.
Bahari prepares salads to accompany the stew for the dignitaries who will eat in our residence.
The entourage of the sultan arrives.
Gani dancers from Ingal
Me sitting with the dignitaries.
Discourse of the mayor of Ingall, our own Sidi.
For me the highlight was the theater put on by Tamesna students about the need to educate girls.
The main attraction for young nomads is the guitar which lasts all night. Hasso is a superstar in Niger and rocked until 2 am. I was too tired to go but could listen from the comfort of my bed.
louis de Ryckel
November 12, 2015 at 1:11 amlosque je vois ces images et vos commentaires je suis certain que vous contribuez à ameliorer la culture de la paix et à ecarter les dangers de la situation actuelle pour les jeunes; c’est vraiment res bien.
Sans bien comprendre tout je m’explique vos réactions au sujet des informations que je vous ai envoyé sur ce fameux Sidi?Par ailleurs y a -ti d’autres ethnies présentes à ce festival je ne vois que des touaregs.je comprends aussi unpeumieux pourquoi quelqu’un comme Doula apprecie le maire .Il serait intéressant pour vous de faire une petite visite à Amaltaltal le 14 au 16 pour rencontrer les responsables des associations wodaabe qui se réunissent là et sentir l’atmosphère Louis