NIGER - COURT OF KING SAIDOU DJAMAKOYE 1924 / Extremely rare - Lot 179

NIGER - COURT OF KING SAIDOU DJAMAKOYE 1924 / Extremely rare set of 110 negative photographic plates (10 x 15 and 9 x 12 cm). These are photographs taken by a settler around Saidou (also spelled Seydou), whose family rules the Djema in Niger, who enlisted in 1915 and fought in the First World War on the Somme and the Chemin des Dames. He distinguished himself at Verdun, where he was wounded and earned the rank of second lieutenant. Returning to Niger, on the death of his father Moussa in 1924, the colonial authorities appointed him as the new king ("zamakoye") of Dosso - assured of his loyalty to the French, he was also rewarded for his devotion. The colonial administration soon extended his kingdom, and by 1926 Saidou was considered one of the most powerful chiefs in Niger, ruling over Dosso, Sokorba, Loga, Mayaki Kwara and Kiota. The photos show the living environment in Dosso: the French fort, arrivals by boat, ceremonies organized by the colonists for Saidou's installation as zamakoye, Saidou himself on his horse with his tackle. One shot shows the settler with his wife. Most of the shots are of scenes and types, with close-ups of women and girls, scarification, hairstyles, jewelry, small trades and various merchants. Photographs of Niger from this period are rare (it is estimated that in 1910, there were only 250 Westerners in the country, and Niger was not granted colonial status until 1922). With the advent of Saidou Djamakoye, we are at the very beginning of colonization. All plates have been printed on paper and mounted on USB memory sticks.