Imperialism Project: Country Niger

Part A

Demographics Of Niger

Niger is one of the poorest and least developed nations on ear th. Indeed, the Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) calculated that Niger is the second poorest country in the world. Nearly 60 percent of the people of Niger live on a dollar a day or less. Only 20 percent of people have access to proper sanitation. Moreover, over 40 percent of the population has no access to clean drinking water. (Baier 300-325)

Niger's high infant mortality rate is comparable to levels recorded in neighboring countries at about 115.42 deaths/1000 live births. The child mortality rate (deaths among children between the ages of one and four), however, is exceptionally high (274 per 1,000) due to generally poor health conditions and inadequate nutrition for most of the country's children. Niger's very high fertility rate (7.29 children per woman) nonetheless means that nearly half of the Nigerien population (47.3 percent) is under age 15. According to recent life expectancy figures, Niger has one of the lowest life expectancy rates in the world. Niger's overall life expectancy was 44 years of age. (news.bbc.co.uk).

Racial And Ethnic Make-Up

There are five main ethnicities the live in Niger: Hausa, Djerma-Songhai, Tuareg, Fulani and Gourmantche. The Hausa, who constitute the largest of the ethnic groups, live mainly in the mid-southern part of Niger, right along the border with Nigeria. Hausa of Nigeria have strong ties with the Hausa of Niger. Hausa is a dominant force in the region, with approximately 34 million speakers in both Niger and Nigeria. (Calhoun 78-79)

Education Literacy

School attendance is very low at 34 percent, including 38 percent of males and only 27 percent of females. In fact, Niger has the lowest percentage of school attendance in Africa. Additional education occurs through Koranic schools is available. Literacy in Niger is also low. Nigeriens 15 years of age and over that can read and write within the total population is a mere 28.7 percent percent. Broken down by gender, this rate is only 42.9 percent for males and for females, it is a shockingly low rate of 15.1 percent. (news.bbc.co.uk)

Colonization

Niger's colonial history and development parallel that of other French West African territories. France administered the Niger colonies by a governor general at Dakar, Senegal, and governors in the each territories. Furthermore in order to bestow French citizenship on the people of the territories, the 1946 French constitution offered for decentralization of power and partial contribution in political life for national advisory meetings (Calhoun 78-79)

Part b

Positive Effects Colonization on Niger

Prior to European expansion and the consequent colonization of West Africa, the Tuaregs, characteristically known by their indigo blue veil, had undisputed control over the desert and the trade routes linking all the major cities. Tuaregs were either necessary or deadly to anyone attempting to caravan through the northern regions due to their protection of remote but vital wells, keen knowledge of the desert, and constant patrol of the desert routes. Tuaregs refer to themselves as Kel ...