Gorgaave (read as Gorgaabe) are concentrated mostly in Western Niger. They live a few hours from Niamey, the capital of Niger.The country of Niger, standing at the crossroads the Sahara and the Sahel, is a crucible where people of very different origins have lived together for thousands of years. But although each of these people maintains its own individuality, particularly noticeable in their life-styles, their physical feature, their customs, dress, and  language. Two distinctions are however remarkable: the settled populations and the Nomads.

The settled populations are divided into several groups: in the west the Songhai and Zarma, Hausa in the center and Kanuri in the east.

The Nomad populations live mainly in the northern part of the country and comprise:
-The Tuareg (8%), to be found within a long strip of land running from the Mali frontier in the West to Goure in the East.
-The Fulani (8.5%),who, together with their herds, are concentrated in the Dosso-Agadez- Maine-Soroa triangle. Some have also settled in the West, around Tera, Say and Niamey. They predominate in certain parts of Maradi, Tessaoua, Mirriah and Magaria Districts. The Fulani group include the Bororos-Wozaave, and the Gorgaave.Sometimes they live alongside Tuaregs and Toubous.

The Gorgaave and the other Fulani groups:

They form the second largest nomadic group in Niger. Like the Tuaregs, they also have long-standing custom- and traditions which they keep very much alive. But in spite of their great. concern to maintain their specific social structure, they have often come under the influence of neighboring populations so much that the Fulani in one area may differ slightly from those of another, depending on where and with whom they live. Ethnic unity, however, is never destroyed.

Within this major category, there are the Bororodjis, more usually referred to as Bororo fulani living in Dakoro-Tanout region, who are all nomadic herders spending the entire year seeking good grazing. They practice the cult of beauty and pay great attention to bodily care, expending a considerable effort on enhancing the attractiveness of their faces, adding sparkle to eyes and teeth.

They have an amazing taste for decoration, though it is mainly the men who spend most of their time in such pursuits. Clothing, on the contrary, is relatively scanty , though here again the taste for decoration is apparent in the amount of jewelry worn earrings, intricate hairstyle interwoven with coins, bead necklaces and multicolored charms.

General Information on Niger

LAND AREA:
1.267.000 Sq Km = 490.000 sq m; (Texas + California + Michigan). As crossroads country between North Africa and Black Africa, Niger is bordered by Algeria, Libya, Malit Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria and Tchad.

POPULATION:
7.251.626 Inhabitants

Capital City:
Niamey (400.000 inhahitants).

Principal towns:
Zinder, Maradi, Tahoua, Dosso,Agadez, Diffa, Arlit.

FEATURES:
Young population=(70% are less than 40 years old)
School enrollment = 22%, Adult literary rate = 12%
Ethnic groups = Hausa, Djerma-Songhai, Fulani, Tamajaq, Kanuri

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES:
French; Hausa spoken by 70% of the population

GDP:
2,370 Billion US $
GDP growth rate = 3,8%
GDP per capita = 310 US$ (1992)

LABOR FORCE:
3,500.000
85% of the population is engaged in agriculture livestock.
Modern sector labor force = 47,730 (1988). (total persons in the social security system).

MINING:
(In 1992, fourth productor in the World after Uranium Canada Australia and USA)
Phosphate - two main deposits with one in Tapoa.
Goal, Gold, Stannite (Tin),Manganese Oil research by Elf, Exxon, and Hunroil.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY:
Breeding is the most important activity of the nomadic population (Tuaregs, Peulhs).
Animal husbandry (livestock, meat, hides and skins, handicrafts) is second only to Uranium in export figures).

CATTLE:
Bovine (2 million), ovine (8 million), horses (500.000) camel (350.000). Caprine (5 million).

LIVING CULTURE:
Millet, sorghum, rice, corn,cassava.

SELLING CULTURE:
Peanut, Cotton, onions, black-eye beans.

HANDICRAFT:
Leather, tapestry, silver and gold jewelry. This diversified and dynamic subsector provides art and daily life products.

US PRINCIPAL EXPORT:
Food products, machines, general merchandise, earthmoving equipment, used wearing apparel

ROADS:
One of the best and macadamized road networks in subsaharian Africa.

AIRPORTS:
Crossroads of airlines going to the North, South and West Africa.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS:
Automatic telephone network, liaison by satellite with the rest of the world (T.V., telephone, telex and telefax).

OTHER INFORMATION:

* NIGER is a member of many lnternational and regional organizations with agreements such as GATT, EEC-ACP, ECOWAS

* An OPIC investment guarantee treaty has been in effect with NIGER since 1962.

*US companies currently in NIGER: EXXON, TEXACO, MOBIL OIL HUNT OIL CITIBANK (branch of NIB), CII HONEY WELL, BURROUGHS and many other branches of US companies.