Music of Niger
446317
221128842
2008-06-23T04:28:49Z
Pigman
285310
clean up, typos fixed: notibly → notably using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]]
{{Nigermusic}}
[[Niger]] is an [[Africa]]n country inhabited by a mix of [[ethnic group]]s, each bringing developed musical traditions to the national culture.
==Traditional musical styles==
[[Hausa people|Hausa]], [[Beriberi people|Beriberi]], [[Songhai]], [[Djerma]], [[Dendi people|Dendi]], [[Fula people|Fula]], [[Wodaabe]], and [[Tuareg]] traditions, most of which existeded quite independently at independece, have begun to form a mixture of styles since the 1960s. While Niger's popular music has had little international attention (in comparison with the music of neighbors [[Music of Mali|Mali]] or [[Music of Nigeria|Nigeria]]), traditional and new musical styles have flourished since the end of the 1980s.
In the north, the Tuareg are known for romantic, informal love poetry played by both men and women, with voices accompanied by clapping, [[tinde]] [[drums]] (in women's songs) and a one-stringed [[viol]] (in men's songs). The [[Fula people|Fula]] and [[Wodaabe]] (largely a nomadic desert subgroup of Fula) keep alive traditions of group singing, accompanied by clapping, stomping and bells. The Wodaabe [[Gerewol]] festival is one of the more famous examples of this style of repeating, hypnotic, and percussive [[choral]] traditions. The Beriberi too are known for complex [[polyphony]] singing.
The region around the capital of [[Niamey]] is inhabited by Djerma and Songhai who play, generally solo, a variety of [[lute]]s ([[Xalam|Molo]]), [[flute]]s and [[fiddle]]s, and like the Fula, carry on the [[griot]] tradition of caste-based praise singers and musicians.
The Hausa, who make up over half of the country, use the [[duma]] for percussion and the [[molo]] (a lute), along with ganga, [[Algaita|alghaïta]] ([[shawm]]) and [[kakaki]] ([[trumpet]]) in the southeast [[Zinder]] area.
===="Tuareg Blues"====
[[Image:Moussa ag Keyna.JPG|thumb|right|Nigerien Tuareg musician Moussa ag Keyna performing in 2007.]]
''Tuareg Blues'' is perhaps the most internationally known of Tuareg musical styles. Growing out of the refugee camps to the [[First Tuareg Rebellion|1990s Tuareg insurgencies]], Tuareg Blues have been exported to Europe, most notably by the [[Malian]] band [[Tinariwen]]. Niger born Tuareg Blues artists include the pioneering guitarist [[:fr:Abdallah ag Oumbadougou|Abdallah ag Oumbadougou]] from [[Agadez]] and his band [[:fr:Takrist n'Akal|Takrist n'Akal]], Moussa ag Keyna's group [[:fr:Toumast|Toumast]], and the performer [[:fr:Mouma Bob|Mouma Bob]].<ref>See the French language wikipedia article [[:fr:Blues touareg]] </ref>
==Modern Nigerien music==
Music for the purpose of entertainment has not been readily accepted by the Nigerien government, though restrictions have loosened since the death of [[Seyni Kountché]] in [[1987]]. A competitive [[music festival]] called the ''Prix Dan Gourmou'' helped inspire a musical renaissance in the country, led by people like [[Alassane Dante]]. The ''Centre for Musical Training and Promotion'' was founded in [[1990]], furthering this process, using a grant from the [[European Development Fund]]. Musicians formed bands to seek fame both domestically and internationally, with the most successful being the group [[Takeda (band)|Takeda]], formed by [[Adam's Junior]], [[Fati Mariko]], [[John Sofakolé]], [[Moussa Poussy]] and [[Yacouba Moumouni]].
In the mid-1990s, internationally renowned record producer [[Ibrahima Sylla]] travelled to Niamey and ended up signing Poussy and [[Saadou Bori]]. He has has since also helped release records from Adam's Junior and from [[Mamar Kassey]], perhaps the best know Nigerien group outside the country, who combine traditional Songhai styles and modern jazz.
===Rap Nigerien===
''Rap Nigerien'', a mélange of different languages spoken in [[Niger]], appeared at the end of the 1990s. The music is relaxed and mellow, mixed with the sounds of traditional musical styles from the many ethnicities in the country. It grew into an interesting sociologic phenomenon, expanding what was expected of domestic popular entertainment. The young and dissaffected have used ''Rap Nigerien'' to give voice to popular complaints - forced marriages, child labor, corruption, poverty and other problems.
Rap Nigerien also spontaneously appeared in [[UNICEF]] grassroots cultural programs, one of the few outlets for large scale performance in the country. In August 2004, UNICEF opened the competition "Scene Ouverte Rap", where 45 new groups were selected from among an over 300 entrants. The competition performances took place at the ''Centre Culturel Franco – Nigerien'' between the 5th and 14th of August.
A large number of ''Rap Nigerien'' acts grew out of this scene and remain active, with the best known being [[Tchakey]], [[Kaidan Gaskya]], [[Wass Wong]] and [[Djoro G]]. Newer groups, such as [[Haskey Klan]], [[Kamikaz]], [[Rass Idris]] and [[Metaphor (musician)|Metaphor]], have since appeared.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Bensignor, François. "Sounds of the Sahel". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), ''World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East'', pp 585-587. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
*Samuel Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press, London and New Jersey (1979). ISBN 0810812290
*Jolijn Geels. Niger. Bradt London and Globe Pequot New York (2006). ISBN 1841621528.
==External links==
*[http://www.studio-lasource.com/ studio la source]: a Niamey based Rap Nigerien label.
*[http://www.planeteafrique.com/FofoMag FofoMag, a Nigerien entertainment magazine, with news and profiles on Rap Nigerien]
*[http://www.nigerime.com/ nigerime]: Niger Hip hop portal.
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/hzbd/ BBC: Mamar Kassey Alatoumi]. Reviewed by Peter Marsh. 20 November 2002.
*[http://www.afropop.org/explore/album_review/ID/1746/Alatoumi Afropop Worldwide: Mamar Kassey Alatoumi]. Reviewed by Banning Eyre, 2001.
{{West African music}}
[[Category:Nigerien music| ]]