Dosso, Niger

Dosso is a city in the south-west corner of Niger. It lies 130–140 kilometres (81–87 mi)[3][4] south-east of the capital Niamey at the junction of the main routes to Zinder and Benin. The eighth-most populous town in Niger and the largest in Dosso Region, it had an official population during the 2001 census of 43,561.[5] The population grew to 58,671 in the 2012 census.[6] It is the capital of its region - which covers five departments in the southwestern corner of the nation - as well as of its own department, Dosso Department. The city itself lies at the centre of its own Urban Commune.[7]

Dosso
Street scene in Dosso
Dosso
Location in Niger
Coordinates: 13°02′40″N 3°11′41″E
CountryNiger
RegionDosso Region
DepartmentDosso Department
Urban CommuneDosso
Elevation
227 m (748 ft)
Population
 (2012[1])
 • Total58,671
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (WAT)
[2]

History
Main article: Dosso Kingdom

Dosso is the seat of the Dosso kingdom, a Zarma chieftaincy which rose to dominate the entire Zarma region in Niger in pre-colonial Niger.[8] The traditional ruler is called Zarmakoy or Djermakoy of Dosso, an autochthonous title meaning literally "King of Djermas" where koy means "king" in Zarma (or Djerma) language.

Sites

Attractions in the town include the Djermakoy's palace and museum, nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.[9]

Transport

The city of Dosso is a commercial hub for trade between Niamey and the towns of eastern Niger, as well as Benin. Dosso has an interim terminus of the Niamey–Cotonou railway presently under construction.[10] In addition, there is a plan for the construction of a dry commercial port.

Notable residents

References
  1. http://citypopulation.de/Niger-Cities.html
  2. Dosso, Niger Page Archived 30 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. 1996–2004. Accessed 2 June 2009
  3. Dosso, britannica.com.
  4. Niger anti-referendum protests turn violent. Adboulaye Massalatchi, Reuters. 1 June 2009.
  5. Population figures from citypopulation.de, citing (2001) Institut National de la Statistique du Niger.
  6. http://citypopulation.de/Niger-Cities.html
  7. 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
  8. Stephen Paterson Belcher (1999). Epic Traditions of Africa. Indiana University Press. pp. 164–173. ISBN 0-253-21281-2.
  9. Palais du Zarmakoye de Dosso, 26 May 2006.
  10. "EXTENDING FROM BENIN TO NIGER". Railways Africa. Retrieved 17 October 2010.

Sources
  • James Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press, Metuchen. NJ – London (1979) ISBN 0-8108-1229-0
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