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Development Agents and Nomadic Agency in the Damergou, Niger: Four Perspectives in the Development "Market"

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Development Agents and Nomadic Agency in the Damergou, Niger: Four Perspectives in the Development University of Kentucky UKnowledge University of Kentucky Master's Theses Graduate School 2003 DEVELOPMENT AGENTS AND NOMADIC AGENCY IN THE DAMERGOU, NIGER: FOUR PERSPECTIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT "MARKET" Karen Marie Greenough University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Greenough, Karen Marie, "DEVELOPMENT AGENTS AND NOMADIC AGENCY IN THE DAMERGOU, NIGER: FOUR PERSPECTIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT "MARKET"" (2003). University of Kentucky Master's Theses. 189. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/189 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Kentucky Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT OF THESIS DEVELOPMENT AGENTS AND NOMADIC AGENCY IN THE DAMERGOU, NIGER: FOUR PERSPECTIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT “MARKET” Discourse between development agents and nomads implies that development for nomadic communities is a contradiction in terms. A “market-oriented” subtext underscores the investors' power of international agencies, the brokers' competition of intermediate organizations, and the nomadic clients' opportunism. Interviews and participant-observation focused on relations between Woδaaбe communities, bilateral and local organizations, and government extension services. I compare the data obtained with historical events to illuminate current phenomena. Approaches of structuration, political ecology, and disequilibrium theory aid an examination of communication and discourses, and gaps in understanding between the parties. I find that essential pastoral livelihood strategies of mobility and customary institutions are threatened by the development system. How will social change affect cultural mechanisms that facilitate resource access and allocation? Rather than promoting sustainable development, projects that target nomadic communities may only result in increased stratification, wealth disparity and marginalization for the majority of nomadic households. Will “development” become too costly for households, local ecology, and even national economy? I conclude with recommendations for participative development through collaborative research. KEYWORDS: Fulbe, Pastoral Development, Niger, Nomads, Wodaabe Karen Marie Greenough 14 April 2003 Copyright © Karen Marie Greenough 2003 DEVELOPMENT AGENTS AND NOMADIC AGENCY IN THE DAMERGOU, NIGER: FOUR PERSPECTIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT “MARKET” By Karen Marie Greenough Peter D. Little, PhD Director of Thesis Mary K. Anglin, MPH, PhD Director of Graduate Studies RULES FOR THE USE OF THESES Unpublished these submitted for the Master’s degree and deposited in the University of Kentucky Library are as a rule open for inspection, but are to be used only with due regard to the rights of the authors. Bibliographical references may be noted, but quotations or summaries of parts may be published only with the permission of the author, and with the usual scholarly acknowledgments. Extensive copying or publication of the thesis in whole or in part also requires the consent of the Dean of the Graduate School of the University of Kentucky. A library that borrows this thesis for use by its patrons is expected to secure the signature of each user. Name Date ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ THESIS KAREN MARIE GREENOUGH THE GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY 2003 DEVELOPMENT AGENTS AND NOMADIC AGENCY IN THE DAMERGOU, NIGER: FOUR PERSPECTIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT “MARKET” ___________________________________________ THESIS ___________________________________________ A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Karen Marie Greenough Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Peter D. Little, Professor of Anthropology Lexington, Kentucky 2003 DEDICATION This Thesis is dedicated to my grandmother, Jane Hawes Greenough Reekie Poston who encouraged my explorations, but passed away a year before I embarked on higher education; and to Ana бi Tunao, Gojen-kejo, who passed away suddenly in the summer of 2002. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people have helped me to accomplish this research and write the resulting thesis. I must first thank my family and friends among the Gojen-ko’en, Kasawsawa and other Woδaaбe and Tuareg who have sheltered me, fed me, and taught me so much about life as a pastoralist on the range. I also thank my friends in the town of Tanout and its surrounding villages who have sheltered and fed me long before I began to work and live with the Woδaaбe. A few special families—townsfolk, Woδaaбe and American—have cared for me despite my many idiosyncrasies. I am very grateful to Manzo Maman for his assistance, not only on this research, but also with various projects over the years, and for helping me to achieve what linguistic and cultural competency I have been able to acquire. I also thank Jacques Chabert for his helpful discussions during this research. In the Anthropology Department at the University of Kentucky, I would like to thank my advisor Peter Little, PhD, and the members of my committee, Monica Udvardy, PhD, Lisa Cligget, PhD, and John van Willigen, PhD, for their help in planning the research and writing this thesis. I also thank Patrick Thomas, PhD, for his counsel in planning the research. This research was conducted with very helpful financial support from the Charles R. Jenkins Award from Lambda Alpha, National Collegiate Honor Society for Anthropology. I thank Donald Linebaugh, PhD, for his assistance in obtaining this award. I also received financial support from the Graduate School of the University of Kentucky. In particular, I thank my family in the United States for their encouragement and support. Though many people have assisted in the planning and implementation of the research, and the writing of the thesis, the work is mine and I take responsibility for any inaccuracies or weaknesses. *** This research was carried out under the auspices of the Institutional Research Board of the University of Kentucky, IRB #02-0194-F4S. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Figures.............................................................................................................................. vii List of File ..................................................................................................................................... ix Prologue - Place and Space .......................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One - Introduction ......................................................................................................... 6 The Fulбe .................................................................................................................................... 8 Geo-political structure of Niger................................................................................................ 15 Research Background, Methods and Issues.............................................................................. 21 Chapter Two - Theory: Frameworks and Models.................................................................. 27 Giddens ..................................................................................................................................... 28 Disequilibrium, Political Ecology and Pastoral Resources ...................................................... 32 Strategics................................................................................................................................... 36 Discourse .................................................................................................................................. 40 Chapter Three - Structure and Restructuration...................................................................... 46 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 46 The Hausa States and the Migrations of the Fulбe ................................................................... 49 The Sokoto Jihad...................................................................................................................... 50 The Woδaaбe in
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