Table of Contents Chapter 1: Profile .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Geography ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Area ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Climate .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Topographic Features ................................................................................................................................ 7 Sahara .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Erg Chech .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Taoudenni ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Tanezrouft Region ................................................................................................................................ 8 Iforas Massif (Adras de Iforas, Adrar des Ifoghas) ............................................................................... 8 Rivers and Lakes ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Niger River ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Lake Faguibine ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Cities ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Timbuktu ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Gao ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Kidal ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 History .................................................................................................................................................... 10 Post-Independence .............................................................................................................................. 10 Government............................................................................................................................................. 11 Traditional Jobs and Economy ................................................................................................................ 12 Ethnic Groups and Languages ................................................................................................................ 12 Maure (Moors)/Hassaniya Arabic ....................................................................................................... 13 Songhai/Koyraboro Senni Songhai ..................................................................................................... 13 © DLIFLC 2 Tuareg/Tamashek ................................................................................................................................ 13 Chapter 1: Assessment ................................................................................................................................ 14 Chapter 2: Religion ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Role of Religion in Government ............................................................................................................. 15 Religion and Daily Life .......................................................................................................................... 16 Religious Conventions and Gender Roles .............................................................................................. 17 Religious Events and Holidays ............................................................................................................... 18 Tabaski ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Mouloud .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Ramadan ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Buildings of Worship .............................................................................................................................. 19 Behavior in Places of Worship................................................................................................................ 19 Chapter 2: Assessment ................................................................................................................................ 21 Chapter 3: Traditions .................................................................................................................................. 22 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 22 Codes of Politeness ................................................................................................................................. 22 Male/Female Interaction ......................................................................................................................... 23 Hospitality and Gift Giving .................................................................................................................... 24 Types of Food/Eating Habits .................................................................................................................. 25 Dress Codes ............................................................................................................................................ 27 Non-Religious Celebrations .................................................................................................................... 28 Dos and Don’ts ....................................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 3: Assessment ................................................................................................................................ 30 Chapter 4: Urban Life ................................................................................................................................. 31 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 31 © DLIFLC 3 Urbanization Issues ................................................................................................................................. 31 Urban Working Conditions ..................................................................................................................... 32 Urban Healthcare .................................................................................................................................... 33 Education and Schools ............................................................................................................................ 36 Urban Daily Life ..................................................................................................................................... 36 Urban Traffic and Transportation ........................................................................................................... 37 Street Crime and Solicitations ................................................................................................................ 38 Chapter 4: Assessment ................................................................................................................................ 39 Chapter 5: Rural Life .................................................................................................................................. 40 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 40 Tribal Distribution .................................................................................................................................. 40 Land Distribution/Ownership ................................................................................................................