Nomads of Niger

Carol Beckwith (photography) and Marion van Offelen.

The Wodaabe, a Fulani-speaking group in central Niger, still preserve the nomadic pastoralist traditions of their ancestors. The authors lived with the tribe, following a herdsman and his family through the course of a year. The book focuses on the central events of the nomads' life: two celebrations that include festive dances and a beauty pageant, where the young men wow the women with their magnificent makeup and style. The book is abundantly illustrated with 144 full-page color photographs, and 30 detailed line drawings (of ornaments, tattoos, and other ethnographic details) on gorgeous, thick nubby kraft paper.

New York: Abrams, 1983. Tall Quarto, hardcover. 224 pages. Excellent used condition.