The Tuareg nomads of Niger live in harmony with the Sahara Desert, following the rain in search of pasture for their goats and sheep. Known for their camel caravans, they have relied for centuries on trading their animals for salt and other commodities.

	A matrilineal society, the Tuareg believe all people of this part of Niger descended from three women. Men, not women, are veiled, and wives own the family home and have their own herd of animals.
	Another nomadic people, the Wodaabe, live south of the Tuareg, herding cattle across the Sahel. Wodaabe men are famous for their intriguing courtship rituals, their dancing and their richly embroidered robes.

Today, severe droughts, desertification and other factors threaten the nomadic way of life. While we estimate over a million Tuareg and Wodaabe have been forced into sendentary lives, many are seeking ways they and their children can survive without losing their cultures or traditional homelands.