Timia

Region

Timia is a rural municipality in the Department Iférouane in Niger.

Geography

Timia is located in the south of the Aïr Mountains. The municipality is divided into seven administrative villages, two traditional villages, a hamlet two camps and 17 water points. The main town of the rural community, the administrative village Timia, is an oasis. It lies on the eastern flank of the mountain Adrar Egalah (1874 m) at an altitude of approximately 1000 m in the area of ​​Kel- Ewey - Tuareg and extends along a dry river bed ( kori ) that leads into the summer months water. South of Timia the Monts Bagzane raise with the highest mountain of Niger, the Idoukal -n- Taghes ( 2022 m). To the south and east of it is the width of the Ténéré desert, through which runs the route for the Saharan caravan trade. The neighboring municipalities are Timias Iférouane in the north, Fachi in the east, and Dabaga Tabelot in the south and Dannet in the West.

History

The main town Timia was founded in 1920, after France had put down a rebellion by Tuareg against the occupation of the country by the colonial power. The founders of the settlement lived previously in the higher Tassalouette village and in the surrounding valleys. The villages Abarakan and Krip Krip - in the municipality of Timia turn were founded by residents of the capital, who were in search of arable soils. Since 2011 part of the rural community not to Arlit Department, but for the newly created Department Iférouane.

Population

At the 2001 census Timia had 8319 inhabitants, of whom 1734 in the administrative village Timia. For 2010, a total of 12,954 residents were calculated. In the township the Tamascheq - Tayart variety is spoken. In addition to the Kel- Ewey - Tuareg a plurality of freed slaves living in the oasis. Also scattered Hausa and Zarma live here; in particular, they work as a village teacher or healing powers. Political and clerical authorities in the village are the village chief ( Maigari ) and the Imam.

Culture and sights

In the vicinity of the oasis, the Cascade de Timia, an impressive waterfall with lake is located. Fort Massu is a 1952 on the initiative of the French General Jacques Massu was built in Timia fortification. They never served military purposes and is known as historical curiosity. Since 2000, the facility serves as a museum and inn where refreshments are available. Also, local arts and crafts will be sold there. Using a modern telescope can also be observed stars.

Economy and infrastructure

The development Timias is characterized by closely packed mud houses. Constructed of cement are few public facilities, such as the school, a small hospital and the radio - telephone station. Thus, the oasis city is an administrative service center, as well as the hinterlands of the infrastructure benefits. However, serious illnesses have to be supplied in Agadez and Arlit ( continued ). In addition, there is a craft center for crafts and trades people of the place. In economic terms dominate the goat and the camel pose. The former is mainly in the hands of women, the latter in those of men. With Bilma is brisk trade in salt. Due to the fertile conditions in the oasis intense as horticulture, which will not last, however, also attributed to the increasing sedentarization of the Kel- Ewey. The gardeners are organized in agricultural cooperatives and spend the products with trucks on the markets of the ( other ) environment. In addition, the trucks provide simultaneously the mandatory means of dar. The basic requirement of 5000 inhabitants is supplied via a centrally located bakery, butchers, tailors, blacksmiths collaborations.

In times of severe droughts in the 1970s and 1980s, the region benefited from various European development aid measures. So the horticulture could initially established, are then intensified. The gardens were fortifications ( Ausschwemminhibition ). New farming methods and fruits - such as oranges and grapefruits - were introduced and cultivated. Seeds and pesticides were organized. Slope Construction and its recovery have also been promoted as the building security of fountains. Aid agencies tried to second Tuareg rebellion ( until the mid- 1990s) through labor migration to set the establishment of retail stores and the promotion of tourism sign of future prosperity. These sources diversified approaches to work but dried up with the rebellion.