Zinder

Region

Zinder is the capital of the region of Zinder in Niger. With 320,000 inhabitants, it is the second largest city in the country to Niamey. Until 1926, the capital of Niger, Zinder is today an important cultural and economic center of the West African state.

• 4.1 Attractions
• 4.2 Cultural Institutions
• 4.3 Regular events

• 5.1 Economy and Trade
• 5.2 Education, care and justice
• 5.3 traffic

Geography

Location

Zinder is in the south of Niger in the Sahel. The neighboring municipalities are Dakoussa in the north, Gaffati in the northeast, Kolleram the southeast, Dogo in the south, southwest and Tirmini Droum in the northwest. The cityscape is dominated by a Precambrian granite massif, on which the old French fort and a water tower located. About three kilometers west of the city lies the Mare de Kaniya, a unused to irrigate the surrounding gardens pond with many species of birds.

Boroughs

Zinder is a city ( ville ) and community with special status ( statut particulier à commune ), which consists of five arrondissements: I Zinder, Zinder II, III Zinder, Zinder Zinder IV and V.

Zinder I is divided into 24 districts, 15 administrative villages, 16 traditional villages and seven hamlets. The districts in Zinder I are Administratif, Babban Sarari I, Babban Sarari II, Babban Sarari III, Bakari I, Bakari II, Chétimari, Dillari, Kofabey, Kouran Daga, Makera, Marafa, Marina, Marka, Sultan, Tchediari, Tchinkissari, Tillakoka, Torowa and Yada Kondague and two different district with the name Galadima and two different district with the name Sabon Gari. Zinder II is divided into three districts, four administrative villages, five traditional villages and two hamlets. The districts in Zinder II hot dispensary, Garin Malam and Kara Kara. Zinder III divided into nine districts, six administrative villages, 13 traditional villages and five hamlets. The districts in Zinder III hot Ali Yaro, alkali, Gawon Wali, Hippodrone, Jaguindi, Manzo, Manzozo, Tambari and Toudoun Jamouss. Zinder IV is divided into three districts, 16 administrative villages, ten traditional villages and 20 hamlets. The districts in Zinder IV are Chare Zamna, Karkada and N'Wala. Zinder finally V is divided into 20 administrative villages, 20 traditional villages, hamlets twelve and a warehouse.

Climate

History

The name of the town goes back to a mythological tradition that a hunter from Bornu made ​​a pact with a sacred snake, and given the size of the snake called " Zindirr ". Another interpretation is that the place name derives from the word zoumdoum, the "large" means and describes the large rock in the area.

In the 18th century Zinder was still a small Hausa village. Sélimane dan Tintouma founded in 1812 as part of the kingdom of Bornu the powerful sultanate of Zinder by there organized his seat of power. His dynasty is fed back through a series of village chiefs in Bornu to a living in the 17th century pious man named Mallam. From Zinder from the Sultan conquered the old place Damagaram. Since the reign title Serki n'Damagaram was associated with more prestige as of yet unknown title Serki n'Zinder, means the territory of the Sultanate of Zinder since then Damagaram. One of the most important successor was Tintoumas Sélimane dan dan Ténimoun Sélimane, who reigned from 1851 to 1884. He threatened the position Damagarams as satellite state Bornus in question and defeated his army several neighboring States. In December 1852, the German explorer Heinrich Barth visited the city. The remains of the building in the area Birni in which Barth lived, are still preserved. Sultan Ténimoun dan Sélimane made ​​in 1856 to the district Birni, the seat of the Sultanate and the Kanuri Aristocracy create a five -kilometer fastening belt. According to tradition, the Koran spending and living virgins were immured, to give it a particular strength in these three meters wide and up to seven meters high walls. Sultan Ténimoun also strengthened the economic position Zinder and made the city a center of the trans-Saharan trade in ivory, gold, salt and slaves. The district Zengou, the original Hausa settlement, served as a temporary residence for overhauling Tuareg dealer.

As a border between the French and the British sphere of influence was from 1890 the first line Say- Barwa. On 14 June 1898, agreed the two colonial powers that the Sultanate would be entitled Zinder France. The then Sultan Amadou dan Ténimoun was posted on July 29, 1899, defeated by the French military expedition Voulet - Chanoine at Tirmini, about twenty kilometers west of Zinder. On July 30, 1899, the French occupied Zinder. The old city wall of Birni was finally destroyed by the French in 1906 largely. As part of French West Africa, France, the Territoire Militaire de Zinder created in 1900 (military Territory Zinder ), which was extended in 1910 to the Territoire Militaire de Niger (military Territory Niger). Zinder maintained its prominent position for the French Niger Colony and in 1911 to its first capital. Having previously the village of Sorbon Haoussa had served as a temporary administrative headquarters of the military territory for a short time, Zinder 1901 was determined as its capital on April 20. Between Birni and Zengou the New Town was created with administrative and residential buildings in the French colonial style. From 1903 until early 1911, was the seat of the territorial government in Niamey, while the military command remained in Zinder. Only in 1926 certain governor Jules Brevie Niamey Zinder place as the capital of Niger colony.

In the 1940s, the west was the neighborhood Zengou an urban extension: Here the Zengou Ouest neighborhood was built. Since then, and especially since the independence of Niger in 1960, the city grew steadily. 2002, the conversion was Zinder to a community group ( communauté urbaine ), which consisted of five municipalities ( communes urbaines ). Began in 2005 with a major renovation of decaying building in Birni. In July 2008, floods destroyed about 2,000 houses in the town, about 24,000 people were considered damaged. When the floods in West and Central Africa 2010 2205 population of Zinder were classified as disaster victims. The municipality composite Zinder in 2010 in a city ( ville ) and community with special status ( statut particulier à commune ) and converted the existing municipalities in arrondissement.

Population

In the 1977 census, Zinder had 53 914 inhabitants in the census 1988 119 827 inhabitants in the 2001 census 170 574 inhabitants. In the 2012 census, the population was 321 809.

Zinder is in the north of the large contiguous area of ​​settlement of the Hausa in Niger and Nigeria. However, the city itself is multicultural with other groups such as the Fulani, Kanuri, Tubu and Tuareg.

Culture and sights

Attractions

The district is characterized by Birni square houses that carry geometrically carved ornaments and paintings. In the Sultan's Palace in Birni the Sultan, his family and his court, a total of around 450 people live. The palace is decorated with relief ornaments. On the facade of the emblems of the Sultan are appropriate: a rod, a sword and the Koran. The Sultan takes as a local Islamic leader a no official political role more. Have been preserved of the great influence of the Sultan on the local population as well as a differentiated court ceremonial. In addition to the Sultan's Palace is a white mosque with a thirteen -meter-high minaret and a remarkable interior. The residence of the Fulani leader, was built from 1812 to 1820 in the Hausa style. She formerly served as the seat of the Sultanate Damagaram. Other palaces in Birni go back to the mid-19th century, some of which were probably designed by the architect Dangoni Dandibi.

In the district Zengou many of the built in Hausa - style buildings were destroyed in 1940. From 1946 to 1950, however, there was a rebirth of traditional architecture, allowing the district today is characterized again by the Hausa style. The main architects were Zengous mid-20th century the Builder Mamane Illoua and decorative painter Dandibi.

Cultural

As a museum of regional culture has existed since 1988, the Centre de collecte. Located between Birni and Zengou, the building of this museum are decorated in a traditional Hausa style. An important venue for cultural events of all kinds is the Centre culturel franco- nigérien ( CCFN ). The head of the center, which also houses one of the largest bookstores of Niger, is also French Honorary Consul.

Regular events

On the occasion of the Islamic festival takes place every year, the festival sacrifice Hawan in Zinder instead. The focus of the festival is a bull fight, which is performed after Nigerien tradition. The festival covers several central places in the city, especially prominent in front of the Sultan's palace. The celebrations are accompanied by riding on horses, butchers, and their sons, and the singing of the griots.

Wassan Kara is another traditional festival that takes place annually in December. Here is mocked in theatrical form about leading personalities.

Economy and infrastructure

Economy and Trade

Zinder is surrounded by a large peanut - growing region. In the city itself clothes, shoes and handicrafts are produced. However, Zinder significant in economic terms is primarily for trade. The large daily market means Kassua'n Dolle. In addition to a variety of other goods will also find traditional medicines are sold. A local culinary specialty is alkaline, small cakes made ​​from wheat and honey. Every Thursday is in addition a great cattle market, which radiates into the neighboring Nigeria. Is traded among other things with sheep, goats, cattle, camels, donkeys and horses.

Education, care and justice

In Zinder, there are 188 primary schools, of which 23 are private schools. Zinder is home to a branch of the Abdou - Moumouni University of Niamey. Be taught Spatial Planning and Urban Studies and line assistance.

In Zinder, there is a National Hospital (French: Hôpital national) and several private clinics. There are numerous pharmacies, most of which have only a small selection of medications available. The supply of electricity and water is given in principle. In the dry season, however, can lead to dramatic shortages in the water supply. In the city there are several aid - courses of the German Development Service and the Peace Corps as well as a coordinating office of the Danish development cooperation.

One of the two courts of appeal of the country has its headquarters in Zinder - the other is in Niamey - as well as a Tribunal de Grande Instance, one of the nation's ten civil courts of first instance.

Traffic

The street scene is of motorcycle taxis, called Kabou - Kabou, embossed. Zinder is located on the National Highway leading to Niamey 1 and on the National Road 11, which is part of the international highway Algiers- Lagos highway. The city is served by all four major bus companies in the country. Bus services among others to Niamey, Arlit and N'Guigmi. In the southwest of Zinder is a small civilian airport, the Zinder Airport ( IATA code: ZND, ICAO code: DRZR ).

Personalities

• Amadou dan Ténimoun († 1899), Sultan of Zinder
• Gabriel Cyrille (1944 ), army officer and politician
• Issa Ibrahim (1922-1991), politician
• Marcel held (1934-2001), Principal and Vice Mayor (1966-1974) of Zinder
• Harou Kouka (1922-2008), physician and politician
• Ali Lamine zeins (* 1965), politician
• Abdoulaye Mamani (1932-1993), writer and politician
• Mahamane Ousmane ( born 1950 ), politician
• André Salifou ( b. 1942 ), historian, writer, politician and diplomat
• Sélimane dan Tintouma († 1831), Sultan of Zinder
• Ténimoun dan Sélimane († 1884), Sultan of Zinder