Woodabe woman's personal possessions, Abouza, Zinder-Tanout region, Niger

"In central Niger, between the great Sahara Desert and the Grasslands, lies an immense steppe in which the Wodaabe, commonly called Bororo, are virtually the only Fulbe group that has preserved the ancient nomadic tradition. The suudu is woodabe woman's shelter and domain. It contains everything she owns. her bed; a long, narrow wooden table. On the table are some fifty nested calabashes -five sets of ten. A top the pile of calabashes is a large decorative structure made up of the woman's kaakol and elletel. The kaakol consists of calabashes encased in tightly woven baskets adorned with silver studs and leather thongs. The elletel is a smaller version of the kaakol.These possessions are never used but constitue a woman's source of personal pride and prestige. The Woodabe woman displays them only on the occasion of the rainy season ceremonies, notably during the worso. Leather sacks behind the kaakol contain the woman's wrappers and a small basket in which she keeps all her most precious personal possessions." [Beckwith/Van Offelen, 1983: Nomads of Niger, Harry N. Abrams Inc.]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970.