Peace Corps Dictionary (English/French)

Zarma - English / French and English - Zarma / French. A site of Peace Corps, Niger. Very helpful and easy to use dictionary. The spelling is a bit different from dictionary of the Zarma course.

A quick-course Zarma (French)

A short clear and easy quick-course and list of essential Zarma words for those who want to speak some Zarma next week. Sometimes spelling differs slightly from Peace Corps Dictionary and dictionary of the Zarma course.

Songhay lessons and dictionary (French)

The Songhay language, site discusses dialects spoken in Mali and Niger. This website is a project carried out by several experts.

This site provides many interesting document, for an overview click here.

Shonghoy-Senni course (English).

This dialect of the Songhay language spoken in Mali has a lot in common with the Zarma dialect. The course consist of four modules with very interesting information about the culture.

Draw back is that films are directly loaded which is a problem with slow Internet connections.

Koyraboro Senni Songhay (English)

Some notes of different effects of adding the suffix -andi to verbs with examples with references to books.

By Matthew Baerman, 12 June 2006

Zarma alphabet and pronunciation (English)

May give some additional help

Basic course Zarma (2006, English)

An introduction to the Zarma Language containing twenty one lessons to learn basic words and phrases. You can listen to and train yourself with mp3 files available at the Niger Peace Corps website. You have to download the files separately, as the download link for the zip file doesn't work.

Mind: the spelling may deviate from the spelling used in this course.

Click here to download pdf file now.

Basic course Zarma (1966, English)

Thirty lessons to learn basic phrases. Alas, the digital copy has a bad quality. The documents has 314 pages. The intention was to exercise the phrases while listening to recordings on tape recorder. The recordings - registered in Niamey are not available. The manual also contains glossaries Zarma - English - French, English - Zarma - French and French - Zarma - English. Mind: the spelling regularly deviates from the current spelling.

Click here to download pdf file now.

Technical language course Zarma
(1995, English)

This course is developed for people working in agriculture. The course is divided in chapters based on themes, such as agricultural cycle, soil protection, live fencing. Non-agricultural themes are discussed as well, such as health and sensibilisation. Per theme there is a list of relevant words and phrases. Themes are sometimes illustrated by a story. Stories are bilingual, in English and Zarma.  

Click here to download pdf file now.

Lexique Français - Songhay Kaado - Français
(2007, French)

List of about 950 words with short introduction. Songhay Kaado is a dialect spoken in the north eastern part of the southern Songhay dialects region in Niger, as well as in neighbouring parts in Burkina Faso. The Songhay Kaado dialect is closely related to the Zarma dialect.

Published by Les Amis de Tokabangou

Click here to download pdf file now.

Bone manti doonay (Zarma)

This book written by Kadi Issa Mahamadou and is titled 'Misfortune was not a habit'.

You can read this book on-line in embedded format. To go to the next page you have to move your pointer to the right hand side of the screen, then an arrow appears. Click on it and you will go to the next page. Adobe flash should be enabled.

Book was available at songhay.org and can be download here as pdf for the time beiing.  

The Bible in Zarma (English)

A complete version of the Bible in Zarma, both the old and new testament. The text in Zarma are given per chapter. An option is available to compare text with another languages (four at the times). several European languages are available, including several English versions.

By Emil Bengtsson, professional web-developer. He recommends to use Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.

The Bible in Zarma (French)

A complete version of the Bible in Zarma, both the old and new testament. The text in Zarma are given per chapter. An option is available to open an extra window with the same text in an other language (click on icon with several pages on the right hand side in the upper row after you have choosen a bible book). French is the only European language available.

Visionneuse Bible XML - Version xsl-css 1.3 du 25 November 2011

Boro si nyunay ga ne ni fundo si tay (Zarma; 17 MB)

This book written by Farmo Ibrahim is titled 'A person can not do the wash without drenching his life'. The title of this book is a wink, it is derived from Zarma proverb, boro si nyumay ga ne ni gahamo ma si tay, meaning that a person can not wash himself without getting wet (Bernard, 2007). 

This book and others are available at the Digital Library for International Research. 

Bana (Zarma; 14 MB)

This book written by Hamidou Seydou Hanafiou is titled 'Bana' (pay). 

This book and others are available at the Digital Library for International Research.  

Siida wala Seeda (Zarma; 3 MB)

The book Siida wala Seeda is written by Alhassane Abdou. You wil find a short biography of him and this book at the African Language Materials Archives.

Baani ceeci koy (Zarma; 4 MB)

The book Baani ceeci koy is written by Alhassane Abdou. You wil find a short biography of him and this book at the African Language Materials Archives.

You wil find at the African Language Materials Archives also some poems by Gandozi Mounkaïla Hamadou as well as a short biography:

• Cala Tondobon (kala tondo boŋ)
• Hondiya (wandiya)

Zankey Jinda (English)

Children stories told by childeren. Several subjects concerning child rights are discussed during the shows. Available at the Plan website. A project called Zankey Jinda carried out between 2005 and 2007 and stopped because of lack of funds.

Gospel recordings in Zarma (English)

Telling the story of Jesus in every language by Global Recordings Network (GRN). This part of the site contains several MP3 files, click number with speaker to go to page with recordings. It can help you to get used to the Zarma spoken in Niger. Use the picture books as help.

The Zerma team (English)

The Zerma People Group Team was formed for the purpose of reaching the Zarma people with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. In addition to religious information, you will find texts about "Who are the Zerma", a video clip with pictures from western Niger and photo's of Derma people and their environment and some songs in the Djerma language.

Zarma music at Fofo Magazine (French)

This web page contains several recordings of songs in Zarma . De site FoFo Magazine contains a lot more information on media in Niger. The page with video-recordings of folkloristic groups from different places is certainly something you should have seen. Zarma speaking singers who (partly) sing Zarma songs, for example, Berey Koy (Unité), Wass Wong (chimifonda), Tchakey (Gonga), and John Sofakollé (Mayaki with French translation).

The life of Jesus (Zarma)

Film about the life of Jesus in the Zarma language. A production of inspirationalfilms.com also available in many other languages. Clearly spoken Zarma.

Wikipedia Zarma language (English)

Overview of Zarma language grammar topics: orthography, phonology, morphology and syntax. 

Brief Information leaflet (English)

Web page with basic information about the Zarma language by the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). Languages maps for Niger and neighbouring countries available.

Zarma life and culture (English)

Excellent site in World Culture Encyclopaedia with short articles by Thomas M. Painter about orientation, history and cultural relations, economy, marriage and family, socio-political organization, religion and expressive culture and a bibliography.

Also available for Songhay live and culture by Paul Stoller.

Wikipedia Zarma people (English)

Page about the Zarma people, including a short overview of their history

Ritual injuries the Marcanda (French)

Scientific discourse on the "marcanda". In the Zarma area of the Niger, a woman whose husband gets married organizes a ceremony in which she asks married women of the village to come and spend the day at her home. At nightfall, just before the newly-wed couple arrives, all the women form a half-circle : those who were taken as first wives start to insult those who were taken as second wives and vice-versa (see also next link).

Research and text by Sandra Bornand (ethnographiques.org n°7, April 2005). Full text and transcription are available.

Injuries in Zarma (French)
[link broken since 17 November 2009, now provided by Djerma.nl]

Text with an offending character, some you might find funny others not. Examples are provided for four types of insults. Translation of Zarma to French.

Polygamy among Zarma more than one wife for a single male (French)

In Niger women are haunted by polygamy. As a spectre in the visual field of women, as the sword of Damocles, comes the day that a woman has to accept a second or even a third wife in the household of her and her husband. (see also Marcanda link above)

Article by Louis Lessard and Martine Lévesque in Journal des Alternatives, 10 Mars 2005

Fulani and Zarma tribes pushed into fights by Desertification? (English)

Fights between nomads and sedentary peoples have occurred often in world history. The Zarma are farmers who primarily live in the arid lands of the Sahel. They grow millet, sorghum, rice, corn and tobacco, and as cash crops, they raise cotton and peanuts. Since milk is an important part of their diet and culture, they also own cattle, but the Fulani or Touareg people tend the animals. Clashes between Fulani herders and Zarma farmers have occurred. This article tries to explain why conflict might increase when applied to today's desertification conditions.

Article by Andrew Furber, ICE Case study no. 29, 1997.

Kassey (French)

Kassey is a mythical woman in Songhay oral history. The Arab chronicles based on Songhay oral traditions show three versions of the Kassey myth. According to the chronicles of Tarikh el Fettach Kassey is the mother of one of the leaders of the Songhay empire in the 16th century. Article by Ousmane Tandina (H.D.R. Lettres Modernes, Université de Niamey).

Ethiopiques n°72. Littérature, philosophie et art; 1st semester 2004

Donou, a typical Songhay drink (English)
(available on djerma.nl, as the original no longer exists)

Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts tries a millet drink while visiting Tera Village (Niger). The drink is called donou, comprised of millet and goat milk. Read about his experience.

USA CIA Factbook : Niger (English)

Actual and brief information about geography, demography, government, economy, transportation, military and trans-national issues.

Niger Embassies in the world (English)

Overview of countries with embassies, consulates or other representatives. For each country specific information is available about type of representation and contact information.

Statesmen and States of Niger (English)

A chronological list is provided of statesmen since 1900. The site also contains a list of several important traditional states that existed in Niger, i.e. Dosso states, major Hausa states, the remnants of the Songhay empire, and the Berber Sultanate of Aïr. Of course the old and current flag, and the text and music of the current national anthem and the text of the constitution (in French) can be downloaded from this site as well

Joel Mayer's links to Niger (English)

Site with links to sites with information, current news, Nigerien web sites, maps and flags of Niger and returns Peace Corps Volunteers.

Sylvain Ernest about Niger (French)

Beautiful (old) site with information about geography, population and climate. There are a lot of photos on this site and a story about a trip to Ténéré and about drinking tea. Links to other site are available.

Krissa Peace Corps Pictures (English)

Nine photo albums with over 200 images each with a short description and taken in 2001-2003. Some with personal affairs and others showing beautiful buildings (e.g. Niamey mosque) or nice landscapes, people and events (e.g. camel race).

A Search for Ancestry: Journey Yields Glimpse of Missing Past (English)

In August 2003, Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts wrote a moving essay about using the African Ancestry DNA-testing service to determine his ancestors' origins. His mother, he found, was from the Songhay people in Niger. His father, from the Mende of Sierra Leone. Last July he went to Niger and Sierra Leone. Joining him was Sarah J. Glover, photographer from The Philadelphia Inquirer. This is their story.

(available on this site, since the original no longer exists)

Eden project Niger (English)

Since 1987, Eden has been running a project just south of the Sahara desert, helping the farmers and their families achieve a sustainable life with the means available to them.

The geography page provides a nice Niger summary in pictures and short phrases.

Shannonigans notes from Niger (English)

Holiday diary of a four week trip to Niger covering several topics like language and communication, Niamey transportation, Tapoa, Parc W. Nice pictures and good stuff for to read for backpackers wanting to travel through Niger.

USA CIA Factbook : Mali (English)

Actual and brief information about geography, demography, government, economy, transportation, military and trans-national issues.

Mali Embassies in the world (English)

Overview of countries with embassies, consulates or other representatives. For each country specific information is available about type of representation and contact information.

USA CIA Factbook : Benin (English)

Actual and brief information about geography, demography, government, economy, transportation, military and trans-national issues.

Benin Embassies in the world (English)

Overview of countries with embassies, consulates or other representatives. For each country specific information is available about type of representation and contact information.

The Language Database (English)

This website provides you with all the language information currently found. You will find a load of internal and external links (the latter to be added gradually) which will make for fun browsing within the site.

Main statement: You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.