Pastoral Nomads of Southeast Niger

The Woɗaaɓe

“The Woɗaaɓe (singular Boɗaaɗo) belong to the Fulɓe (singular Pullo), with whom they share the language, Fulfulde, as the most important commonality. As nomads they live in the West African countries Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic.” (Schareika 2003: 68)
“The Woɗaaɓe primarily herd cattle (nagge / na’i) of the Zebu race (na’i boɗeeji) and are known for their special knowledge in this field. Their other domestic animals (mardi) include sheep (mbaalu / baali), goats (mbe’a / be’i) and donkeys (njaakiwa / jaakiiji) as load animals and for riding. While men in central Niger use camels (ngelooba / geeloodi) as animals for riding, the Woɗaaɓe in Southern Niger confined to horses (pussu / pussi) because of their fear of camel thieves.” (Schareika 2003: 69)

"The spatial unity of cattle and family in a common camp is the wuro. From here, the cattle go out grazing." (Schareika 2003: 83)

"The calf rope of the wuro extends from north to south. It separates the eastern sphere of the wife (suudu) from the western sphere of the husband, the cattle (duɗal) and male visitors (daɗɗo)." (Schareika 2003: 105)

"The Woɗaaɓe see the bush almost exclusively from the viewpoint of the cattle. The bush alone provides the environment in which cattle can develop. For this reason, the bush stands in conceptual opposition to everything that could disturb the free development of cattle from the outset (...)." (Schareika 2003: 83)

"For the Woɗaaɓe, the cattle are the only source for the satisfaction of basic material needs. The cattle provide them with milk, butter, with bone marrow and meat: the money to buy millet and clothes; the leather for making shoes; the calves which are being sacrificed during births and marriages." (Schareika 2003: 74)

"Depending on the season, the cattle graze the surrounding grass areas within two to ten days down, so that the Wodaabe move their camp over short distances within the grazing area. Such a small-scale relocation of the site is called sottol." (Schareika 2003: 123)

"To settle the cattle in one place, would mean, to expose them to a bad situation that contradicts their nature. To become sedentary is seen as failure; it shows, that one does not live up to the high demands of cattle husbandry (ngaynaaka)." (Schareika 2003: 95f)

"The men would spend time with inexhaustible conversations and discussions with men from the neighboring camps and it would appear as if these very hours are the reward for all the hardship of the pastoral life." (Schareika 2003: 55)