Zinder (zĭn'dər) , city (1988 pop. 120,892), S Niger. It is the trade center for an agricultural region where grains, manioc, and peanuts are grown, and cattle and sheep are raised. Manufactures include millet flour, beverages, and tanned goods. Zinder was situated on an old trans-Saharan caravan route that connected N Nigeria with the African coast as early as the 11th cent. The walled town was the capital of a Muslim state controlled by Bornu from the 16th to the mid-19th cent. Zinder was conquered by the French in 1899 and during World War I was the scene of an unsuccessful Tuareg uprising against French control. The town grew after 1920, when nomads began settling there in large numbers, and from 1922 to 1926 it served as the capital of the French Niger colony. Parts of the old city wall and the 19th-century palace of the ruler of Zinder still stand.
Zinder
| Wikipedia: Zinder |
| Zinder | |
 |
|
  Zinder
|
|
| Coordinates: 13°48′19″N 8°59′18″E / 13.80528°N 8.98833°E | |
| Country | Niger |
|---|---|
| Zinder | Region |
| Matameye | Department |
| capitol of Sultanate of Damagaram | 1736 |
| Elevation | 479 m (1,572 ft) |
| Population (2001 census)[1] | |
| - Total | 170,574 |
Zinder (which is locally called Damagaram) is the second largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 (2001 census)[2] by 2005 was estimated to be over 200,000. It is situated 535 miles east of the capital Niamey and 149 miles north of the Nigerian city of Kano.
Contents |
History
Zinder rose from a small Hausa village to an important center of the Trans-Saharan trade with the founding of the Sultanate of Damagaram in 1736 by Kanouri aristocrats. The large fortress of the souteast central city (Birini) was built shortly thereafter, and became a major hub for trade south through Kano and east to Bornu. The Tuareg encampments and trade houses of the Hausa town (Zengou) expanded with this trade. The French conquered the city in 1899, and placed the capitol of the new Niger Military Territory there in 1911. In 1926, following fears of Hausa revolts and improving relations with the Djerma of the west, the capitol was transferred back to the village of Niamey.
The town today
Today, Zinder comprises three main areas. Birni, the old town, is home to Zinder Great Mosque and the Zinder Sultan's Palace, as well as a museum. Zengou, the old Hausa settlement, is known for its vernacular architecture. Sabon Gari (the new town), between Birni and Zengou, is the commercial centre, known for its large market. The city now sprawls to the north and west, extending to the Karkada section, in the north. Other neighborhoods 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.
Zinder Airport (code: ZND) is located a few miles to the southwest of the town.[3]
References
- Falling Rain .com: Zinder.
- Columbia Encyclopedia:Zinder
- ZINDER, Ecyclopedia Britannica (1911)
- James Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ - London (1979) ISBN 0810812290
- Finn Fuglestad. A History of Niger: 1850-1960. Cambridge University Press (1983) ISBN 0521252687
- Jolijn Geels. Niger. Bradt UK/ Globe Pequot Press USA (2006) ISBN 9781841621524
External links
- Zinder travel guide from Wikitravel
- Franco-Nigerien Cultural Centre Zinder (Centre culturel franco-nigérien de Zinder) CCFN-Z. Les Centres Culturels franco-nigériens. Ambassade de France à Niamey.
- Friends of Niger: Photos from December 2000 taken in old quarter and the sultan's palace in Zinder.
- Photo 1
- Photo 2
 |
This Niger location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Learn More
 | Sultanate of Damagaram |
| List of Nigeriens |
| Public holidays in Niger |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ Read more |
 |
| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Zinder". Read more |
|
