Zinder

Zinder, locally known as Damagaram, is the 2nd largest city in the country of Niger and has a population of more than 200,000 people. It is located about 860 kilometres from the capital city of Niamey and nearer at 240 kilometres from Nigeria's city of Kano.
Zinder was just a small Hausa village, which rose to become a significant hub in the Trans-Saharan trade routes around 1736 when the Sultanate of Damagaram was founded by the Kanouri aristocrats. In 1899, the French took over the city and in 1911 made it the capital of the Niger Military Territory. In 1926, due to fears of revolts and improving relations with the western Djerma, the capital was relocated to the village of Niamey.
Today, Zinder is divided into 3 areas, which includes Birni, home of the Great Mosque and Sultan's Palace; Zengou, the location of the old Hausa settlement and of vernacular architecture; and Sabon Gari or the new town, which is the commercial centre of Zinder.