Over 90 percent of the population of Niger lives in the southwest corner of the country near the fertile Niger River basin. Located on the edge of the Niger River is the capital of Niger, Niamey, a major trading center of West Africa. The cuisine of Niger is closely similar to those of the neighboring countries such as Nigeria to the south, Chad to the east and Algeria and Libya to the north of the country. The official language of Niger is French but a number of local languages are commonly spoken throughout the region and emphasized in schools. Niger has been a territory dominated by colonization and foreign occupation, a fact that is clearly displayed in the national cuisine. Influences from Portuguese or British occupants can be noticed in Niger’s modern cuisine. While the influences a