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Zinder (locally, ''Damagaram''), formerly also spelled Sinder, is the third largest city in
Niger Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state Geography of Niger#Political geography, bordered by Libya to the Libya–Niger border, north-east, Chad to the Chad–Niger border, east ...
, with a population of 235,605 as by the 2012 census. It is situated east of the capital
Niamey Niamey () is the capital and largest city of Niger. As the Niamey Urban Community (, CUN), it is a Regions of Niger, first-level division of Niger, surrounded by the Tillabéri Region, in the western part of the country. Niamey lies on the Nige ...
and north of the Nigerian city of Kano.


History


Early history

Zinder was originally the site of the small Hausa village of Zengou.Geels, Jolijn, (2006) ''Bradt Travel Guide - Niger'', pgs. 213-26 The town grew dramatically in importance following the arrival of Kanuri aristocrats in 1736, who built a new fortified quarter called Birni to the south and declared the town of Zinder as the capital of the
Sultanate of Damagaram The Sultanate of Damagaram was a Muslim pre-colonial state in what is now southeastern Niger, centered on the city of Zinder. History Rise The Sultanate of Damagaram was founded in 1731 (near Mirriah, modern Niger) by Muslim Kanuri ari ...
in 1736. Thereafter Zinder became an important centre of the Trans-Saharan trade and a major hub for trade south through Kano and east to Bornu." The sultanate remained nominally subject to the Borno Empire until the reign of Sultan Tanimoune Dan Souleymane in the mid-to-late 19th century, who declared independence and initiated a phase of vigorous expansion. Europeans began exploring the region in the 19th century, beginning with German explorer Heinrich Barth, who stayed in Zinder in 1851, and later the French explorer Marius Gabriel Cazemajou, who was killed in the city in 1897. It was then, after a brief resistance, occupied in July 1899 by Lt. Pallier of the Voulet-Chanoine mission. The French barracks was called Fort Cazemajou and it served as the capital of the Niger Military Territory upon its creation in 1911. In 1926, following fears of Hausa revolts and improving relations with the Djerma of the west, the capital was transferred back to the village of
Niamey Niamey () is the capital and largest city of Niger. As the Niamey Urban Community (, CUN), it is a Regions of Niger, first-level division of Niger, surrounded by the Tillabéri Region, in the western part of the country. Niamey lies on the Nige ...
. Upon Niger's independence from France, the town's fort was renamed for Sultane Tanimoune.


Recent history

In 2003, telecommunications company Celtel arrived in Zinder, building a mobile phone tower and selling prepaid phone cards to residents. This arrival of the mobile phone drastically changed the predominant modes of communication in the city, allowing traders to have a faster and more affordable means of communicating with buyers and sellers. This is an example of how cellular towers in the developing world have begun to transform the market. In September 2024, the Zinder Mosque, one of Niger's oldest mosques and a significant cultural and religious site in the city, collapsed due to intense rainfall.


Geography

The centre of Zinder consists of three main areas: in the north is ''Zengou or Zango'', the old
Tuareg The Tuareg people (; also spelled Twareg or Touareg; endonym, depending on variety: ''Imuhaɣ'', ''Imušaɣ'', ''Imašeɣăn'' or ''Imajeɣăn'') are a large Berber ethnic group, traditionally nomadic pastoralists, who principally inhabit th ...
suburb, is known for its
vernacular architecture Vernacular architecture (also folk architecture) is building done outside any academic tradition, and without professional guidance. It is not a particular architectural movement or style but rather a broad category, encompassing a wide range a ...
, and in the south lies ''Birni'', the old Hausa town, which is home to Zinder Great Mosque, Fort Tanimoune and the Sultan's Palace, as well as a museum. ''Sabon Gari'' (the new town), lies between Birni and Zengou, and is the commercial centre, known for its large market (the ''Grand Marché''). The city now sprawls to the north and west, extending to the Karkada section, in the north; other neighbourhoods include Garin Mallam and Gawon Kollia. The city has many distinctive granite rocks which can result in standing water during the rainy season, though the city has a long history of water shortages. Recently water was piped by a Chinese-owned company from the north to provide water to most of the city, however, this problem is likely to continue due to expected population growth. The city is divided into 5 urban municipalities: Zinder I, Zinder II, Zinder III, Zinder IV and
Zinder V Zinder V is an urban Communes of Niger, commune in Niger. It is a commune of the city of Zinder.Zinder Airport (code: ZND) is located a few kilometres southwest of the town.


Economy

The economy of the city is still largely based on the agricultural activities of the surroundings. Today, the city counts four officially recognised industries: Tannerie Malam Yaro (leather tanning), Gidan Alkaki (cake production), Sahara Sahel Foods (processing of non-wood forest produce) and SORAZ (petrol refinery located 50km North of the city). The latter is Niger Republic's first oil refinery, and was commissioned in November 2011.


Education

* André-Salifou University (2010)


Climate

Zinder has a hot arid climate (
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
''BWh'') bordering upon a
hot semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of sem ...
(''BSh''). Temperatures are hot to sweltering year round by day – only December and January in the middle of the dry season average below — whilst morning temperatures range from pleasant at the height of the dry season to uncomfortable in the months immediately preceding the first rains. The temperature rarely drops below or rises above . There is essentially no rainfall from October to May, and almost three-quarters of the total annual rainfall of occurs in July and August alone, accompanied by hot temperatures and much higher humidity than seen during the remainder of the year. Sunshine is extremely high year-round, being only marginally reduced during the wet season.


Notable residents

* Moussa Hamadou Djingarey (born 1973), film director * Fadji Maina, scientist


Gallery

File:Zinder centre ville.jpg, Zinder city center File:Marché Dolé.jpg, Dolé Market in Zinder File:Zinder Old Town Niger 2007.jpg, Traditional Hausa architecture in Zinder File:Université de Zinder.JPG, Zinder University File:Zinder DSC 4486 (6328130115).jpg, Many buildings in the town are decorated with traditional symbols File:Zinder DSC 4499 (6328132379).jpg, The Grand Mosque in Zinder


References


Bibliography

* James Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ – London (1979) * Finn Fuglestad. A History of Niger: 1850–1960. Cambridge University Press (1983) * Jolijn Geels. Niger. Bradt UK/ Globe Pequot Press USA (2006)


External links

{{Authority control Zinder Region Populated places in Niger