Nikki

Nikki is the seat of the Bariba kingdom of the same name, one of the older states of the region, and its king still holds court there. The town is known for the Gaani, a festival held after the Islamic new year in which horsemen in full dress ride through the town to the palace, drums and trumpets sound and the king appears in state. The Bariba horse tradition is central to the whole occasion.

History

The kingdom's first capital was Ouénou, and around 1480 the Wassangari arrived under Mansa Doro; Séro, chosen as head of the community, married Baatombu women, and his son Simé found the site of Nikki while hunting, its name said to come from his words on how humid it was. In the 18th century princes from Nikki founded petty kingdoms across southern Borgu, among them Kandi, Kaiama, Parakou and Natitingou, and the city minted the mithqal gold coin; in the race for Nikki of 1894 Frederick Lugard signed a treaty with its king on 10 November and Captain Decoeur on the 26th, and after the border of 1898 the town joined French Dahomey and declined as Parakou became the centre (Wikipedia, Nikki, Benin).

What you'll find

• The Gaani festival - the horsemen riding to the palace in full dress.
• The royal court - the king and court that still function in the town.
• The horse tradition - the Bariba riding culture the festival is built around.
• The Bariba country - the northeastern region the town is the centre of.

When to go

The Gaani follows the Islamic calendar and shifts each year; ask locally for the date. November to February is the cool dry season generally. March and April are extremely hot.

Good to know

The festival date moves with the Islamic calendar and cannot be planned around from far off. Outside it the town is quiet with limited facilities. Photography at the ceremonies needs permission.

Nearby

Parakou is southwest, and the Nigerian border is east.

Key facts