A Film by Paolo Quaregna & Mahamane Souleymane

In Niger, a country where few people are salaried workers, the informal economic sector is essential to the survival of thousands of families. The women of the Sahel region are the pillars of this sector, which accounts for more than half of Niger's economy. We visit a number of women as they make peanut oil, extract salt from earth, and turn gypsum into plaster. The film also introduces the craftswomen who create marvelously decorated pottery, beautifully woven straw mats, and intricate leatherwork, all to earn a few dollars.


"Demonstrates the vital roles women play in supporting themselves and their families... provides a good counterpoint to prevailing stereotypes. A welcome addition to the available audiovisual resources on the sub region."-African Studies Quarterly