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Old Songhai dance (Zarma/Djerma)
The Songhay are a large group of predominantly Muslim African peoples from the Sahelian belt of West Africa, culturally closely related to the Hausa and Fulani peoples. Subtribes include the Sonrai of Mali; the Zabarma/Djerma of Niger, Northern Nigeria, Burkina Faso and parts of Northern Ghana; the Dendi of Benin and Burkina Faso and the Tadaksahak of the Sahara desert. The modern Songhay are the descendents of the 13th century Songhai Emnpire which spun the range of most of modern West Africa. Famed Guitarist and Singer Ali Farka Toure of Mali belonged to the Sonrai subgroup of the Songhay. This is an old Songhay dance dating from the 14th century, performed by a dance troupe of the Zarma people of Niger and Northern Nigeria. This old clip was taken from Nigerien TV. Instruments: TSIRIKI: traditional flute GOJE: traditional fiddle (Hausa: GOGE, Sonrai: NJARKA) DOODO: talking drum (Hausa: KALANGU) KOTSO: traditional snare drum