It’s wintertime here in Niger. Some days are temperate and sunny while some are cold and dusty (especially around dawn), but the bush is just as enjoyable as ever.
We meet more people now that the millet fields have opened up to the nomads, who are bringing their animals south from the northern pastures.
Not too long ago, we encountered a group of Tuareg children who were driving a herd of donkeys through the millet fields.
We just had to stop and enjoy.
The children were professional herders, riding bareback on their well-trained donkeys.
This brother and sister rode in perfect unison, handling their donkey with perfect ease.
Suddenly, a few riderless donkeys drifted off on their own, and the brother and sister rode after them.
With perfect ease, they trotted bareback on their bitless donkey,
…caught up with the runaways,
…and steered them back to the main flock.
At this point, Sheba - always the scout of people in trouble - offered her services and although we convinced her that the children had the herd under control, she ensured that no donkeys stayed behind as the flock continued its way through the millet fields.
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18 users commented in " The Tuareg Children and Their Donkeys "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackGreat pictres, yet again!
I’m totally fascinated by the people and the countryside! I need a trip to Africa some day…
Donkey herding - something I’d never even thought might exist before this post! Those kids evidently have some pretty fierce skills. They look as fascinated by you and the camera as you were by them!
Loved this post. The donkeys and the kids are adorable!
Amazing look into your world, thanks for sharing these great pics.
All the best
Guy
Regina In Pictures
I do love all your shots today of the kids and their donkeys! They are indeed adorable!
Have a very Happy Holiday season!
Sylvia
What a wonderful post. I enjoyed the photographs and narrative so much.
I’ve never “herd” of herding donkeys before, but I guess I’m not all that surprised at it. I mean horses are herded, right? But riding bareback without even a bridle — not that’s impressive. I’ve ridden horses bareback before, but not without a steering wheel!
Terrific words and images.
Maybe I should come to visit and those children can give me riding lessons. They look as though it comes so naturally to them.
Esther - I really enjoyed these photos - children’s responsibilities in different cultures astound me. I can’t imagine American children of this age with this kind of responsibility not only for themselves but for their animals!
It is amazing to see children so comfortable herding the donkeys.
Great captures! Just amazing. I love that the donkeys are so well-behaved. I wonder who trains them? Too funny that Sheba wanted to be a donkey herder!
Fascinating and interesting. Great photos.
« Jinro Ittai » 「人驢一体」”Riders and donkey as one”*
The above popped up on reading your caption, “This brother and sister rode in perfect unison, handling their donkey with perfect ease.” under picture 7. And then I could confirm your comment while watching pictures 8, 9 and 11.
The Japanese quote above is recycled from “Jinba Ittai”「人馬一体」”Rider and horse as one”) , a catch-phrase now entered into the Mazda Miata fans’ jargon.
Mazda Motor Corp. of Hiroshima rolled out of the assembly line their revamped version of their MX-5 Roadster Miata in 2006. In coining the phrase, they intended to convey to the potential owner the enhanced driver’s experience of symbiosis with the machine.
Although I know firsthand how hugely fun to drive this two-sitter is, a first trial test will make your tooshie feel threatened with being soon one with the tarmac. Ground clearance is minimal.
Being that Mazda had borrowed from the samurais’ horsemanship tradition, my thought process in tweaking their phrase was blissfully unencumbered by any thought of copyrights legislation.
(*): Where 「人」 “jin” stands for “rider” in the English here, it actually means plainly “human”. I availed myself of the Japanese quirk for shortening words and preserved only「驢」in「驢馬」 (pronounced “roba” rolling the tongue on ro), the donkey in Japanese. Today,「ロバ」is the preferred script over the obsolete 「驢馬」. Not many Japanese would know to write the ideogram「驢」which means donkey also in Chinese. And lastly, I just found the term “usagi-uma” (兎馬、うさぎうま) that I did not know of and means also donkey, where “usagi” is a rabbit and “uma” is a horse, which makes sense once you picture the rabbit’s ears on top of a horse’s head.
Have not your eyes glazed over yet? Since ‘tis the season, happy yuletide greetings to all.
Totally charming!
Wow - those donkeys look so beautiful and healthy! Thank you so much for posting these pictures.
Another fascinating look at your world, with your love for it shining through photos and words.
Fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving gifts are all the buzzwords in a Christmas setting. Make your Christmas a one to cherish for years!
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