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, Fulani and Mande peoples. Subtribes include the Sonrai of Mali; the Zarma (Djerma) of Niger, Northern Nigeria, Burkina Faso and parts of Northern Ghana; the Dendi of Benin and Burkina Faso and the nomadic Tadaksahak of the Sahara. The modern Songhay are the descendants 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 Koyra-Chiini speaking Sonrai subgroup of the Songhay. This traditional Songhay narrative dance was 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

Category:

Music

Tags:

• zarma
• songhay
• songhai
• sonrai
• dance
• music
• west
• african
• niger
• nigeria
• kalangu
• talking
• drum

[livlaughluv23]

this was a very good learning experience and helped with my ancient Songhai project for school thank you for letting us know about your culture. It would be fun to learn a dance from the Songhai people.

Thank you again

13 year old student

[anak1]

Heya livlaughluv23! Thanks for the reply! glad to know these videos can help! I hope you get top marks for the project! :)

[tonyeokechukwu]

Bolekid don't be ignorant,this is a SUDANIC culture and incase u do not know u have Hausa tribe in ethiopia so your culture is not as different as u would like to believe,don't forget u are also a part of AFRICA (and all it's migrations)

[fadette09]

Le bon vieux temps . Qui aurait les chansons de Dalwayze de Haoua Bozo, et Diaouga Manga SVP?

[ssodangi]

Na gode mutan Niger! Much as I don't hear a word of what they are singing, but it sound all the way HAUSA. Na gode!

[CALLINGALLTOLOVE]

Baruch Hashem

[mbasek]

ha ha ha... we africans don't even know our history... we have to wake up! to read and to re write some books. From east to west, south to north, there is a LINK. And never forget before the african countries, DRAWING by european in a map, it was lands and not what we have now. The Conference of Berlin was in 1884, so talking about culture and roots it was yesterday. I have my country but I will never forget that it could be another one drawing, so a part of another country.. So Songai is songai

[fnkdrmmr]

This is a beautiful African clip. THe vocals reminds me typical Eastern music, as opposed to Western music i.e., R&B, Country, Jazz, and even Hip Hop.

[Doubleak80]

the songhai culture & tradition is dying out as more are speaking larger languages that are closely related to their own. More cultural videos such as this one which are their "own" sonrhai need to be posted

[VraiDiouf]

They are from Niger not Mali lol Tillaberi region.

[Kolonel1]

Home sweet Home.

Minjo beto a fait sa part. J ai été bercé à mes premiers pas sous cette melodie.

Minjo fofo. We never forget even in the deep of New Jersey!

Humiyname : They are from Niger, Tillaberi region specially;by the time of samaria, they used to have a great group.

[karmantounka]

This is Tillabery, Go Tilla, Go!!!!!

[xmenxw]

Fonda goy anak1!! Gao forever...