aka Ishtar News
The Zinder race track might not be where I normally go to skywatch, but an action-filled setting is only a bonus when the sky happens to be in a particularly beautiful setting mode.
Staffan and Inger - our friends from Sweden - were lucky that Zinder hosted one of its few major racing event during their [...]
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 [...]
This past weekend saw the city celebrating Tabaski (also known as Eid al-Adha), which together with Ramadan is one of the two major highlights of the year.
Anette and I spent the morning taking care of (and catching up with) the animals of Ishtar’s Ark, before heading out in the afternoon to greet friends.
The white outfit [...]
People have been preparing for the upcoming Tabaski celebration for weeks now and today is finally the BIG day!
Of the two great celebrations, Ramadan and Tabaski, the latter is generally the favourite one, as everybody gets to eat meat. It’s the day when every family slaughters a male animal, (or more, depending on your financial [...]
Monday last week saw the end of the Ramadan fasting, and the whole street was celebrating.
The kids were thrilled when they saw that I took out my camera, and wanted to pose with Sheba. Sheba however, my lovely ridgeback girl from Sweden, was not in the best of photo posing modes,
…and I thought the kids [...]
Although most of our days tend to be busy, this past weekend was busier than ever (in a good way). Between horseback riding, house cleaning (mostly done by our guest Hanna from Sweden) and heading off to dinner at my father’s, we managed to squeeze in an excursion to the Zinder market.
Much to Hanna’s delight, [...]
This past Saturday, we got up very early in the morning, in order to attend the opening ceremony (called a ‘Fatia’) of a wedding at the other end of town. This was Hanna’s first real excursion in the “real Zinder”, after visiting Ishtar’s Ark, Eden Street, the Eden office and the nearby bush.
The wedding was [...]
While on our way to work in the morning, we met a man who had spent the night visiting our friend Haruna on Eden Street. He was loading his cart and preparing for his journey back home.
He spotted Sheba (our Rhodesian Ridgeback from Sweden) and smiled, impressed and uncertain at the same time. He looked [...]
When people come to Zinder, and they wonder what to do after having been to the sultan’s palace, I always recommend the race track. Although is a difference between small and great events - rare are the weekend when the track lies deserted. Races run on Saturdays and Sundays - with training sessions on Tuesdays [...]
There are few things I love as much as the Zinder bush, which is an endless expanse of yellow sand, dotted by green acacias, palm trees and ancient rocks.
The best way to experience it is by horseback, especially when you want to go far. Nigerien barbs are amazingly forward and I know few individuals who [...]
Every once in a while, a little baby is born to someone you know. On the seventh day, you go on a “souna”, which is when the name in announced.
The mother in question was my friend Ladi, a few years younger than and who also grew up on Eden Street. She married a few years [...]
Early morning, Eden Street. A woman in black shawl starts to fry beignets, which are for sale.
Within a few minutes, she will be ready for customers, and there are many. The beignets, which is a sort of bean doughnut fried in peanut oil, are cheap and tasty and much appreciated by the local population.
The parallel [...]
Within Hausa culture, the professional entertainer is called the “griot”.
Whenever there is a public spectacle, you can find him, doing stunts and little plays for the general amusement of the people.
His acts can be both musical and athletic,
…frightening or dangerous…
…artistic…
…or a combination of all of the above!
Whenever there is a ceremony that calls for family unity (such as a wedding), you will see a lot of girls and women dressed in the same tissue.
This concept is referred to as “uniforme” here in French speaking Niger.
It means that all female relatives and friends get together and have new outfits made from the [...]
The 18th of December is the national day in Niger. It’s a HUGE event (reminding me of the 17th of May in Norway…) as it marks the day that Niger gained autonomy from France!
Today, Niger’s 50th anniversary as an independent nation will be celebrated in Tillabery and for weeks on end, the city has been [...]
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