On July 26, as a military coup was underway in the West African nation of Niger, the airwaves of Télé Sahel, the state television station, filled with upbeat music videos praising the military.
Some of these videos had been circulating for years, but since a group of generals toppled the democratically elected president in July, Niger has witnessed a revival of both old and new military propaganda, now remixed for the TikTok era.
Fear and respect toward the military are also deeply entrenched within the society, analysts said.
It is not clear how many Nigeriens support the military takeover.
Among throngs of men assembled in front of the country’s national assembly, the green and orange Nigerien flags, raised fists and defiant messages against Western countries provided an ideal backdrop for their new song, “Niger Guida,” or “Niger My Home” in the Hausa language.
Persons:
—, insurgencies, Zabeirou Barké, Niger, Nigeriens, ”
Organizations:
Nigerien
Locations:
West African, Niger, Sahel, West, Nigeriens, Niamey