ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Armée indigène

Okay kiddo, let me tell you about armée indigène!

It's a fancy French term that means native army. Back in the old days, when European countries like France or Britain would colonize other lands, they would often use native people to fight for them.

These native people could be from different tribes, ethnic groups or even countries, but they would fight alongside the French or British soldiers against their common enemies. The native people were often given special training and were used as scouts or skilled fighters, because they knew the land and its inhabitants better than the colonizers.

The armée indigène was seen as a useful tool by colonial powers, but it was also a way for native people to gain recognition and status in their societies, as well as a source of employment and income for some.

However, it's important to remember that these native armies were often forced or coerced into joining, and they were not always treated fairly or respectfully by the colonial powers they fought for. Many native soldiers were exploited and mistreated, and their contributions were largely ignored or dismissed by the colonial authorities.

So, armée indigène might sound like a cool and exotic term, but it's a reminder of a complicated and often violent history of colonialism and exploitation.