Zinder Introduction

Zinder is the second largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 (2001 census)now it is about 200,000 It is situated 535 miles east of the capital Niamey and 149 miles north of the Nigerian city of Kano.

From the eighteenth century it was the centre of the state of Damgaram. It had a population of over 20,000 and was known for its city wall, remains of which can still be seen, and for its slave market.

The city was captured by the French in 1899, and when Niger became a colony it was the first capital, until Niamey was promoted in 1926. 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. The new town, in between Birni and Zengou, is the commercial centre, known for its large market

Zinder Weather

Generally speaking, hot or hotter than hell; average temperatures are around 30°C (86°F), but are capable of reaching over 50°C (122°F) in the hot season between March and June. The air is so hot during these months that rain evaporates before it hits the ground. December through to February are cooler months and the temperature can actually drop to freezing in the night-time desert. The harmattan winds usually arrive just before the rains, sometime between December and February, and can cut visibility down to almost nothing. The rainy season usually lasts from June to October, and can make travelling around difficult.

Zinder Attractions

Sultan's Palace, Zinder Attraction type: Ancient ruins Grande Marche, Zinder Attraction type: Town center/square/plaza Regional Museum, Zinder Two-room museum with Hausa culture on display Attraction type: Specialty museum Residence of Heinrich Barth, Zinder Attraction type: Historic home; Ancient ruins Birni Quarter, Zinder Attraction type: Neighborhood

Zinder History

Zinder, 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.