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