Discover the city of Niamey. Niger capital city

Today, we’ll get to know about the exciting and interesting city of Niamey, the capital and industrial centre of Niger. Niamey is home to most of Niger's places of interests like the Niger national museum, French and Nigerien cultural centres, amongst others. The people of Niamey are very welcoming and trust me you might want to place it at the top of your travel list.

Niamey is the capital and largest city of Niger. Niamey lies on the Niger River, primarily situated on the east bank. Niamey's population was counted as 1,026,848 as of the 2012 census. With 2020 estimates, Niamey has a population of 1,334,984 and this shows that the capital districts population is growing at a slower rate than the country as a whole.
Niamey was probably founded in the 18th century and originated as a cluster of small villages. Niamey was of little importance until the French developed it as a colonial centre in the late 1890s. The town, then with an estimated population of some 1,800, was chosen as the capital of the newly created Military Territory of Niger in 1905, however the capital was shifted to the more established city of Zinder in 1912. Zinder's proximity to the Nigerian border and distance from French-controlled ports prompted the French to move the capital back to Niamey in 1926. At the time of independence in 1960 the population had grown to around 30,000.

The period from 1970 to 1988 was one in which the economy of Niger boomed, driven by revenue from the uranium mines at Arlit. As a result, the population of Niamey grew to 398,000 inhabitants and the city expanded from 1,367 hectares in 1970 to 4,400 hectares by 1977, in the process annexing peripheral villages such as Lazaret. Continuing droughts also caused many rural Nigeriens to move to the growing city.
The city of Niamey is located in a pearl millet growing region, while manufacturing industries include bricks, ceramic goods, cement and weaving.

A major attraction in the city is the Niger National Museum, which incorporates a zoo, a museum of vernacular architecture, a craft centre, and exhibits including dinosaur skeletons and the Tree of Ténéré. Other places of interest include the American, French and Nigerien cultural centres, market centres including the large Niamey Grand Market, a traditional wrestling arena and a horse racing track. Most of the colourful pottery sold in Niamey is hand made in the nearby village of Boubon.

The cuisine of Niamey draws on traditional African cuisines. Various spices are used and meals including grilled meat, seasonal vegetables, salads, and various sauces are some of the foods consumed. Meals in Niamey usually start with colorful salads made from seasonal vegetables. Moringa leaves are a favorite for a salad.

Niger being a predominantly Muslim country, mosques are the most common places of worship, with the Grande Mosque being the largest in the city. There are also various Christian churches, most notably Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral and the Cathedral de Maourey. Niamey makes up a special capital district of Niger, which is surrounded by the Region of Tillabéri.

Niamey is served by the Diori Hamani International Airport, located 12 km southeast of the city and is crossed by the RN1 highway. Niamey railway station, officially inaugurated in April 2014, is the first one built in Niger.
Niamey is one of the fastest growing cities in terms of development and infrastructure. Niamey is quite an interesting and exciting city and trust me it's a place you'll want to visit sooner or later.

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