This object is a rectangular, colored carpet with geometric patterns and a black finish. It was made in Mangaize refugee camp in Niger during 2018. The carpet, crafted by Malian refugees, is a “natte de mariage”, a type of mat that every Malian lady of the Peulh tribe needs to have before she can consider getting married. The refugees had come from the town of Ouallam (in Niger) and were living in Mangaize refugee camp at the time. Although it’s only girls and women who make these mats, the men arrange getting hold of the materials. The reeds come from nearby Intikane and the thread will never fade in color, the refugees say, insisting upon its good quality.
Weaving such carpets is a collective effort with different women and girls in the household joining in a process that takes six months to complete. Since electric light is not available, they can only work during the day.
Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa, with a population of about 20 million. The country suffers from multiple droughts and has few arable areas, placing it among the poorest countries in the world. Yet, Niger hosts around 300,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from Mali but also Nigeria and other neighboring countries. It was the first country to establish an Emergency Transit Mechanism for refugees from Libya. Since 2017, UNHCR has assisted thousands of refugees who evacuated from Libya to Niger who admitted them temporarily, while they wait for resettlement in a third country.