Niger: Nigerien Villages Around Koure

(“Nigerien” with the stress on the second “e” is the adjective for Niger, while “Nigerian” with the stress on the first and only “e” is the adjective for Nigeria). Nigerien villages are quite traditional and unique – most structures are made from red clay/mud except the perfect-cement mosques (all gifts from Qatar – who needs food and housing when you can pray!). The conical-roofed round buildings standing on stilts of sort and surrounded by palm-leave sheets are storage for grain and other goods, and are the most picturesque parts of the villages, fittingly accentuating the desert landscape of Sahel. People are quite welcoming and happy for your visit, kids follow you in a large crowd all around the village, and nobody opposes or objects of you taking photos.