Welcome to Niamey Niger's capital city
Niamey city, capital of Niger and Tillabéry dept., SW Niger, a port on the Niger River. Niamey is Niger's largest city and its administrative and economic center. The city sits on the bank of the famous Niger river. Niger river is the third longest river in Africa.
Much of its importance stems from its location on the Niger River at the crossroads of the country's two main highways. The city is the trade center for an agricultural region that specializes in growing peanuts. Manufactures include bricks, food products, beverages, ceramic goods, cement, and shoes. Niamey was a small town when the French colonized the area in the late 19th cent., but it grew after it became the capital of Niger in 1926.
Much of its importance stems from its location on the Niger River at the crossroads of the country's two main highways. The city is the trade center for an agricultural region that specializes in growing peanuts. Manufactures include bricks, food products, beverages, ceramic goods, cement, and shoes. Niamey was a small town when the French colonized the area in the late 19th cent., but it grew after it became the capital of Niger in 1926.
Originally an agricultural village of Maouri, Zerma, and Fulani peoples, it became the capital of Niger colony in 1926 and grew rapidly after World War II. At the intersection of trade routes, it has residents from other parts of Niger, as well as Yoruba and Hausa traders, merchants, officials, and craftsmen from Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. Source:Encyclopedia.com
War Memorial, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945
Palais de Justice, Niamey
Sahel Com un souffle de liberté
Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest aka Central Bank of West African States Tower
HISTORY
Niger used to be occupied by the Songhai Empire in the west, Hausa kingdoms in central parts and the empire of Kanem-Bornu around Lake Chad to the east. These kingdoms traded in slaves, gold, and salt. Although their fortunes diminished during the French colonial years, trans-Saharan trade still continues, to some extent. Under French control, Niamey became the capital of colonial Niger in 1926.
Niamey grew rapidly after World War II - ...it has most of the amenities of a modern capital city, but at the same time maintains a distinct Sahel character. It has an international airport and has road links with Benin and Nigeria.
Most people in the city work in the service sector. Important buildings and institutions in the city includes the University of Niamey, National School of Administration, national museum, research institutes for geology, human sciences, oral tradition, tropical forestry and agriculture, veterinary studies.Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/
Niamey grew rapidly after World War II - ...it has most of the amenities of a modern capital city, but at the same time maintains a distinct Sahel character. It has an international airport and has road links with Benin and Nigeria.
Most people in the city work in the service sector. Important buildings and institutions in the city includes the University of Niamey, National School of Administration, national museum, research institutes for geology, human sciences, oral tradition, tropical forestry and agriculture, veterinary studies.Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/
A teenage girl fills up water pots in Kan-Karen-Kacha, central Niger
Rush hour, central Niamey
Traditional guards gather in the village of Kournaka, southern Niger
LIFE IN NIAMEY
SUNSET OVER THE NIGER RIVER IN NIAMEY
Some places to visit in Niamey include the Niger National Museum, zoo, craft center, Grand Marche, which is a famous market area in the place. There are traditional artifacts, fantastic jewelry, carvings, furniture, fabrics, local music.
There are different modes of transportation available in Niamey such as buses, taxis, camel, boats, and bicycles. Niger is reported to have one of lowest literacy rates in the world. Hence the goods stores and shops have pictures showing paintings of types services or goods provided.
And when you are hungry, Niamey has an array of restaurants and eateries that serve both local and international cuisines. One of the popular recipes of Niger is grilled meat, which is famous for the spices it is marinated with. The baking of the meat on the coal oven along with the spices are just too much to resist. The salads made in the country of Niger look colorful and taste exquisite. A preparation made with seasonal veggies and various sauces, the salads along with the other food items gifts one a sumptuous banquet to the tourists to Niger.Source: http://www.mapsofworld.com
And when you are hungry, Niamey has an array of restaurants and eateries that serve both local and international cuisines. One of the popular recipes of Niger is grilled meat, which is famous for the spices it is marinated with. The baking of the meat on the coal oven along with the spices are just too much to resist. The salads made in the country of Niger look colorful and taste exquisite. A preparation made with seasonal veggies and various sauces, the salads along with the other food items gifts one a sumptuous banquet to the tourists to Niger.Source: http://www.mapsofworld.com
Hobo Traveller website has interesting pictures of food in Niger. Below are some of my favourite. http://www.hobotraveler.com
Beignets
Baguette sales man
Beef Brochettes
Beef and goat jerky
MilletMusée Nationale(Niger National Museum) and Zoo
Sarcosuchus imperator - 100 million year old giant crocodile, Niger National Museum
Sarcosuchus imperator - 100 million year old giant crocodile, Niger National Museum
Photos by Brian McMorrowROAD SIGNS IN NIAMEY
Photos by Brian McMorrowMARKET SCENE IN NIAMEY
Photos by Brian McMorrow
Petit Marché Photos by Brian McMorrow
Photos by Brian McMorrow
Petit Marché 
SAND STORM IN NIAMEY
Grande Mosquée Niamey Niger
Niamey's Grand Mosque was financed by Libya (CFA 500 million)
Photos by Brian McMorrow
GIRAFFES IN NIAMEY NIGER
Peralta giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) are ... ENDANGERED and the population of Peralta giraffes in Niger are the last giraffes in West Africa. They live in an unprotected area of southwest Niger in direct contact with the people and their cattle. The destiny of the last giraffes of West Africa is thus closely dependent on that of the human populations.100 years ago thousands of giraffes lived throughout Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.
In 1996 there were just 50 left all gathered in the south west of Niger. Why? The causes of such a massive drop in numbers are numerous: poaching, increasing human demography, destruction of the vegetation, excessive cultures, desertification –(turning into a desert). The giraffes concentrate on the plates of Kouré during the rain season and, during the dry season, in the area of Harikanassou source:http://www.wildlifeprotection.info/giraffes.htm
Photos by Brian McMorrowVIDEO
Streets of Niamey
TEXT SOURCE AND FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://lifeinniger.blogspot.com
wikitravel
Niamey.biz
wildlifeprotection
Things To Do: Experience the Niger River
EmoticonEmoticon