Niger: Modern and Contemporary Performance Practice

International audienceNiger is a country of Sub-Saharan Africa bordering the Sahara Desert. Nigerien society boasts a richly multi-cultural setting. It is part of a region of sociopolitical entities that have been highly influenced by Islamic Arabic cultural norms. The regions and countries surrounding Niger are Central West Africa (Nigeria and Mali to the south, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Benin Republic to the southwest), Central Africa (Chad to the southeast), and North Africa or the Maghreb (Algeria and Libya) to the north. These sociocultural factors affect Nigeriens’ view of the world and are evident in their modern and contemporary music. Furthermore, 90% of Nigeriens dwell in rural areas and as a result, although some of their contemporary music reflects a growing urbanity, the central messages in contemporary music remain focused on rural realities and village life. This entry ex-amines contemporary Nigerian music, its traditional influences, and the development of Nigerian rap