Zerma, Dyerma in Niger      Largest Religion  Main Language
Introduction / History  The Zerma belong to a larger West
African people group known as the Songhai. The two groups treat
each other as cousins and frequently intermarry. Some of the
Zerma live in the southwestern part of Niger, while others
occupy northern Nigeria along the Niger River Valley. They may
have originated in the country of Mali, emigrating southward
centuries ago. Their language, Zarma, is a Songhai dialect from
the Nilo-Saharan linguistic family.  The aggressive,
aristocratic Zerma are the largest group in Niger. They are
known as honest and hard-working by the neighboring peoples. The
Zerma living in Niger inhabit an area that consists mainly of
sandy plateaus and thin soils. It is a savanna region with
temperatures around 90ºF for much of the year. This is a sharp
contrast to the fertile, lush river valleys occupied by many of
the Zerma in Nigeria. In Niger, buffalo, elephants, antelopes,
crocodiles, and hippopotamuses can be found