View source for Zinder

{{Short description|City in Zinder Region, Niger}}
{{about|the town in south-eastern [[Niger]]|the community along the [[Niger River]]|Sinder}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name          = Zinder
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|subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Niger|Region]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Zinder Region|Zinder]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[Departments of Niger|Department]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[Ville de Zinder Department|Ville de Zinder]]
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|established_title2     = Capital of [[Sultanate of Damagaram|Damagaram]] <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2      = 1736
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|population_total               = 235,605<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://citypopulation.de/Niger-Cities.html|title=Niger: Regions, Cities & Urban Centers - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information}}</ref>
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'''Zinder''' (locally, ''Damagaram''), formerly also spelled '''Sinder''', is the third largest city in [[Niger]], with a population of 235,605 as by the 2012 census.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://citypopulation.de/Niger-Cities.html|title=Niger: Regions, Cities & Urban Centers - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information}}</ref> It is situated {{convert|861|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of the capital [[Niamey]] and {{convert|240|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of the Nigerian city of [[Kano (city)|Kano]].

==History==

===Early history===
{{see also|Sultanate of Damagaram}}
[[File:Photo1906 Zinder overview.jpg|thumb|Zinder in 1906]]
Zinder was originally the site of the small [[Hausa people|Hausa]] village of Zengou.<ref name="Bradt">Geels, Jolijn, (2006) ''Bradt Travel Guide - Niger'', pgs. 213-26</ref> The town grew dramatically in importance following the arrival of [[Kanuri people|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]] in 1736.<ref name="Bradt"/> Thereafter Zinder became an important centre of the [[Trans-Saharan trade]] and a major hub for trade south through [[Kano (city)|Kano]] and east to [[Bornu Empire|Bornu]].<ref name=eb>"{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Zinder |volume=28 |page=985}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Bradt"/>

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 Third Republic|French]] explorer [[Marius Gabriel Cazemajou]], who was killed in the city in 1897.<ref name="Bradt"/> It was then, after a brief resistance, occupied in July 1899 by Lt.&nbsp;Pallier of the [[Voulet-Chanoine mission]]. The French barracks was called '''Fort&nbsp;Cazemajou'''<ref name=eb/> 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 [[Zarma people|Djerma]] of the west, the capital was transferred back to the village of [[Niamey]].<ref name="Bradt"/>

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.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything |last=Saylor |first=Michael |year=2012 |publisher=Perseus Books/Vanguard Press |isbn=978-1593157203 |page=191 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Historic mosque in Niger destroyed by torrential rains |url=https://www.trtworld.com/africa/historic-mosque-in-niger-destroyed-by-torrential-rains-18203867 |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=[[TRT World]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Zinder-du ciel.jpg|thumb|Zinder from the sky]]
[[File:Zinder (6328132791).jpg|thumb|right|The Sultan's Palace]]
The centre of Zinder consists of three main areas: in the north is ''Zengou or Zango'', the old [[Tuareg people|Tuareg]] suburb,<ref name=eb/> is known for its [[vernacular architecture]], and in the south lies ''Birni'', the old [[Hausa people|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,{{clarify|date=February 2016}} 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.{{cn|date=October 2019}} 

The city is divided into 5 urban municipalities: [[Zinder I]], [[Zinder II]], [[Zinder III]], [[Zinder IV]] and [[Zinder V]].<ref>[http://www.case.ibimet.cnr.it/den/Documents/code_rural/cdrom/doc%20pdf/Loi%20N%B02002-14%20cr%E9ation%20des%20communes.pdf Loi n° 2002-014 du 11 JUIN 2002 portant création des communes et fixant le nom de leurs chefs-lieux]. Includes list of 213 communes rurales and seats, 52 Communes urbaines and seats</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations|1977|53,914|1988|119,827|2001|170,575|2012|235,605|align=none|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.citypopulation.de/en/niger/cities/ Niger: Administrative Division population statistics]</ref>}}
The population of Zinder City has quadrupled from around 50,000 inhabitants in 1977 to over 200,000 people in 2012.

==Transport==
[[Zinder Airport]] (code: ZND) is located a few kilometres southwest of the town.<ref>[http://www.world-airport-codes.com/niger/zinder-7859.html Zinder (ZND) Niger: world-airport-codes.com]</ref>
[[File:Aéroport International de Zinder-2020-2.jpg|thumb|Zinder International Airport]]
==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.<ref name=schritt-2018>{{cite journal |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/000203971805300204 |title=Crude Moves: Oil, Power and Politics in Niger |last1=Schritt |first1=Jannik |last2=Schareika |first2=Nikolaus |journal=Africa Spectrum |volume=53 |issue=2 |year=2018 |access-date=21 May 2024}}</ref>

==Education==
*[[André-Salifou University]] (2010)

== Climate ==
Zinder has a [[hot arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BWh'') bordering upon a [[hot semi-arid climate]] (''BSh''). Temperatures are hot to sweltering year round by day – only December and January in the middle of the dry season average below {{convert|90|°F|°C|1|disp=or}} — 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 {{convert|54|°F|°C|1}} or rises above {{convert|108|°F|°C|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zinder Climate, Weather By Month, Average Temperature (Niger) - Weather Spark |url=https://weatherspark.com/y/58607/Average-Weather-in-Zinder-Niger-Year-Round |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=weatherspark.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Zinder, NE Climate Zone, Monthly Weather Averages and Historical Data |url=https://weatherandclimate.com/niger/zinder |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=weatherandclimate.com}}</ref> There is essentially no rainfall from October to May, and almost three-quarters of the total annual rainfall of {{convert|410|mm|in|0|disp=or}} 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.

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = [[Zinder Airport]] (1961–1990)
| Jan avg record high C = 34.3
| Feb avg record high C = 37.6
| Mar avg record high C = 40.8
| Apr avg record high C = 42.5
| May avg record high C = 42.8
| Jun avg record high C = 41.9
| Jul avg record high C = 38.7
| Aug avg record high C = 36.4
| Sep avg record high C = 38.5
| Oct avg record high C = 39.3
| Nov avg record high C = 36.9
| Dec avg record high C = 35.0
| year avg record high C = 
| Jan high C = 29.3
| Feb high C = 32.5
| Mar high C = 36.3
| Apr high C = 39.7
| May high C = 40.6
| Jun high C = 38.1
| Jul high C = 34.9
| Aug high C = 32.7
| Sep high C = 35.5
| Oct high C = 37.1
| Nov high C = 33.7
| Dec high C = 28.3
| year high C = 36.2
| Jan mean C = 21.9
| Feb mean C = 24.8
| Mar mean C = 28.8
| Apr mean C = 32.3
| May mean C = 33.3
| Jun mean C = 31.9
| Jul mean C = 29.2
| Aug mean C = 27.8
| Sep mean C = 29.4
| Oct mean C = 30.0
| Nov mean C = 26.0
| Dec mean C = 22.9
| year mean C = 28.2
| Jan low C = 14.7
| Feb low C = 17.1
| Mar low C = 21.4
| Apr low C = 25.0
| May low C = 26.6
| Jun low C = 25.6
| Jul low C = 23.7
| Aug low C = 23.2
| Sep low C = 23.7
| Oct low C = 22.9
| Nov low C = 18.6
| Dec low C = 15.4
| year low C = 21.5
| Jan avg record low C = 10.6
| Feb avg record low C = 12.4
| Mar avg record low C = 15.8
| Apr avg record low C = 20.3
| May avg record low C = 22.1
| Jun avg record low C = 21.2
| Jul avg record low C = 19.6
| Aug avg record low C = 19.3
| Sep avg record low C = 20.1
| Oct avg record low C = 19.1
| Nov avg record low C = 14.2
| Dec avg record low C = 11.5
| year avg record low C = 
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0.0
| Feb rain mm = 0.1
| Mar rain mm = 0.5
| Apr rain mm = 1.0
| May rain mm = 14.8
| Jun rain mm = 39.2
| Jul rain mm = 128.6
| Aug rain mm = 168.1
| Sep rain mm = 53.5
| Oct rain mm = 5.0
| Nov rain mm = 0.2
| Dec rain mm = 0.0
| year rain mm = 411.2
| Jan sun = 291.4
| Feb sun = 268.8
| Mar sun = 275.9
| Apr sun = 270.0
| May sun = 297.6
| Jun sun = 288.0
| Jul sun = 269.7
| Aug sun = 257.3
| Sep sun = 267.0
| Oct sun = 291.4
| Nov sun = 291.0
| Dec sun = 291.4
| year sun = 3358.0
| Jand sun = 9.4
| Febd sun = 9.6
| Mard sun = 8.9
| Aprd sun = 9.0
| Mayd sun = 9.6
| Jund sun = 9.6
| Juld sun = 8.7
| Augd sun = 8.3
| Sepd sun = 8.9
| Octd sun = 9.4
| Novd sun = 9.7
| Decd sun = 9.4
| yeard sun = 9.2
| source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-I/NG/61090.TXT
|title = Station Name: ZINDER AERO
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|format = TXT
|access-date = 30 August 2024
|archive-date = 31 August 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240831023954/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-I/NG/61090.TXT
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

==Notable residents==
*[[Moussa Hamadou Djingarey]] (born 1973), film director
*[[Fadji Maina]], scientist

==Gallery==
<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
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* James Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ – London (1979) {{ISBN|0-8108-1229-0}}
* Finn Fuglestad. A History of Niger: 1850–1960. Cambridge University Press (1983) {{ISBN|0-521-25268-7}}
* Jolijn Geels. Niger. Bradt UK/ Globe Pequot Press USA (2006) {{ISBN|978-1-84162-152-4}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Zinder}}
{{Wikivoyage-inline|Zinder}}

{{Communes of Niger}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Zinder| ]]
[[Category:Zinder Region]]
[[Category:Populated places in Niger]]