Brunnen und Felder

Territorialität im Westniger (Abala). With an English Summary

Author: Tilman Musch.

Series: Topics in Interdisciplinary African Studies Volume 25

2012
12 pp. Roman, 252 pp.
7 maps, 10 colour photos, 16 b/w photos, index, appendix
Text language(s): German
Format: 148 x 210 mm
360 g
Paperback
€ 39.80

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This study deals with territoriality in pastorally managed areas of the Abala community of Western Niger. The focus is on the dynamics of territoriality which have to be continuously maintained and can be questioned any time. Contrary to a sedentary perspective, the author holds the opinion that territoriality is not weakened but in fact even strengthened by mobility.

The discourse regarding territoriality forms the theoretical framework in which the present study analyses material of anthropological fieldwork among different communities in Western Niger: Arma, Tuareg, Fulbe, Hausa and Zarma. In a first step, the ethnic groups and their history of migration as well as the formation and legal basis of a zone pastorale is presented. This description starts from the historic context of the displacement of the Iwellemmedan Tuareg to the north by the French colonisers which led to a resettlement of the research area as well as the foundation of a Hausa canton including this resettlement.

The areal reorganisation created the prerequisites for territoriality which are still relevant for an analysis of current conflicts. In a second step, two detailed case studies of conflict over land are analysed from the perspective of legal anthropology, one between the Arma – assimilated to the Tuareg – and the Fulbe on the one and between the Arma and the Hausa on the other side.

Of special interest are, among others, attempts of occupancy of territory as well as territory marking with wells. The analyses finally lead to the concept of an open territoriality which is helpful for describing the connection of nomads to space one the one and defining nomadism on the other hand.

Following the links below, you will find several in-depth analyses of indigenous African land rights. In our programme, further studies on cultures and Berber languages in Niger have been published, see the following links:

Accompanying material:

Cross-reference:

Reviews

The present study analyzes territoriality in the pastoral area of western Niger. Mainly interested in pastoral societies, especially in the Tuareg and Fulani [the author] was also able to work among Hausa (Kurfeyawa) and Zarma in order to cope with different perceptions of territoriality and with different points of view on conflicts. The aim of the study is to show processes of changing territoriality which are due to history, demography, ecology or politics. In a first step of this study (part 1), an overview about the definitions of territoriality is given. After this theoretical framework, part 2 gives an introduction on the migrations and the settlement of the ethnic groups who are currently living in the region. In part 3 the pastoral area of western Niger is described with its ethnic, politic and juridical implications.The following parts (4 and 5) present detailed case studies of two pastoral groups, their migrations to the area they inhibit currently and conflicts with sedentary agriculturalists in the neighborhood. In part 6, the presented facts and cases are discussed in the context of territoriality. Two main statements are made here. First, the efforts of groups to defend or contest territoriality have to be considered in the theoretical framework of „generalized stateness“. Second, boundaries may not be an appropriate feature in order to describe territoriality among nomads, even if almost every theory emphasizes their importance. On the contrary, one can state a significant absence of boundaries in nomadic territories of the region.

Ulrich Oberdiek in Anthropological Abstracts, 13/2012, 1

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