Pastoralists in Niger

The Sedentarization of Dwelling

August 11, 2017

The Sedentarization of Dwelling

Florian Köhler's research project at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology was about transformation processes in a group of Fulɓe Woɗaaɓe in Niger, which he studied with a focus on the connection between space, place and identity. This group of once highly mobile pastoralists is characterized by increasing sedentarization as agro-pastoralists and by massive work migration to regional urban centres. Among the aspects investigated were continuity and change in the form of dwellings between the pastoral nomadic and the urban migrant context.

Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

The Sedentarization of Dwelling
August 11, 2017

Florian Köhler's research project at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology was about transformation processes in a group of Fulɓe Woɗaaɓe in Niger, which he studied with a focus on the connection between space, place and identity. This group of once highly mobile pastoralists is characterized by increasing sedentarization as agro-pastoralists and by massive work migration to regional urban centres. Among the aspects investigated were continuity and change in the form of dwellings between the pastoral nomadic and the urban migrant context.
The significance of a shelter – The rains fall unsteadily in the northern Sahel but
when they do come, it is with force. Often, major rain showers are preceded by huge sandstorms.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The small, tent-like shelters of the Woɗaaɓe seem vulnerable in the face of a sand
storm, but they are well adapted to the mobile lifestyle of pastoralists. Today, covers of plastic tarp
protect the shelters fairly well against the rain water.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The seemingly little structured camp has in fact clear markers that define separate spaces. The calf rope separates the male from the female sphere.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
At the same time the calf rope marks a space in which the domestic activities of the two sexes converge. Diffa region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Among the Woɗaaɓe in eastern Niger, only colourful mosquito nets provide
a minimum of privacy and protection. Diffa region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Collective camp site on the occasion of a lineage meeting (worso) in the process of its unmaking.
Damergou region.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Young women disassembling a shelter before a camp relocation. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The household goods are loaded onto donkeys.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The work of packing up camp is a female task, although young men will occasionally be seen as they help loading a donkey. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The tent poles are carried along if they are in good shape. Otherwise they can be replaced from local material. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The household group on the move. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The household group on the move. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Girl and small child on donkey back. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
An occasional modern chair belonging to a family head may be part of the household goods. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The household group on the move. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Small children are carried on donkey back.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Twin brothers riding on top of a donkey load. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Child riding on top of a donkey load. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Arrived at the new camp site.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The unpacking of the household goods at the new camp site is again a female task. Damergou region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The reorganization of the camp in the new camp site.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The typical tent-like shelter (tukuru) is constructed around the bed. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
In preparation, a circle of holes is dug into the ground to fix the tent poles. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Homestead with symbolic enclosure of branches, bedstead and calabash
shelf. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
A woman is reassembling her mobile house. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The branches that serve as tent poles are tied together with strings made of old rugs. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Woman reassembling her mobile house after a camp relocation.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The matting must be tightly fixed with strings to resist the often strong winds.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Woman reassembling her mobile house after a camp relocation.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The tukuru shelter is covered with matting. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
During the hot dry season, only a light cover of cloth is preferred, which allows for the
circulation of air. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Young girls in a half-constructed shelter. Koutous region

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The urban camps that Woɗaaɓe migrants install in open places within the city show a structural
resemblance with the pastoral camps. The shelter opens to the west and the calabash shelf is aligned to the north. Diffa

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Woɗaaɓe shelters in the urban space. If the spatial conditions permit, the composite camps in the urban space reproduce the typical linear arrangement of the pastoral camps. Diffa

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
The thorny branches that delimit the domestic unit are more relevant in town than in the
pastoral camps as a protection of the private space against passers-by. Diffa

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Woɗaaɓe girl at her urban home. Diffa

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Woɗaaɓe children at their urban home. Diffa

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Woɗaaɓe woman at her urban home. Diffa

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Woɗaaɓe camps in an open space in Diffa town.

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Woɗaaɓe woman at her urban home. Diffa

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
A typical transportable bed in an urban Woɗaaɓe homestead. Diffa

■ Photo: © Florian Köhler, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

The Sedentarization of Dwelling

Florian Köhler's research project at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology was about transformation processes in a group of Fulɓe Woɗaaɓe in Niger, which he studied with a focus on the connection between space, place and identity. This group of once highly mobile pastoralists is characterized by increasing sedentarization as agro-pastoralists and by massive work migration to regional urban centres. Among the aspects investigated were continuity and change in the form of dwellings between the pastoral nomadic and the urban migrant context.