Dosso, Niger

Dosso
Officials at the opening of the Regional Maternity hospital, 2008.
Dosso Location in Niger
Coordinates: 13°02′40″N 3°11′41″E / 13.04444°N 3.19472°E / 13.04444; 3.19472
Country	Niger
Region	Dosso Region
Urban Commune	Dosso
Elevation	227 m (748 ft)
Population (2001)
- Total	43,561
[1]

Dosso is a town in the south-west corner of Niger. It lies 130–140 km^[2][3] south-east of the capital Niamey at the junction of the main routes to Zinder and Benin. The seventh most populous town in Niger and the largest in Dosso Region, it had an official population during the 2001 census of 43,561.^[4] 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 center of its own Urban Commune.^[5]

Sites

Attractions in the town include the Djermakoy's palace and museum, nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.^[6]

Transport

Dosso would be the terminus of a proposed railway from Parakou in Benin.^[7]

Historical state

Main article: Dosso Kingdom

Dosso is the seat of the Dosso kingdom, a Djerma chieftaincy which rose to dominate the entire Djerma region in the immediate pre-colonial period. The traditional ruler is styled Djermakoy or Zarmakoy of Dosso, an autochthonous title meaning literally "Djermas' owner"^{[citation needed]}: Djerma / Zarma being the name of the predominant ethnic group throughout southwest Niger.

References

1. ^ Dosso, Niger Page. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. 1996-2004. Accessed 2009-06-02
2. ^ Dosso, britannica.com.
3. ^ Niger anti-referendum protests turn violent. Adboulaye Massalatchi, Reuters. 1 June 2009.
4. ^ Population figures from citypopulation.de, citing (2001) Institut National de la Statistique du Niger.
5. ^ 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
6. ^ Palais du Zarmakoye de Dosso, 26 May 2006.
7. ^ "EXTENDING FROM BENIN TO NIGER ". http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2010/10/extending-from-benin-to-niger/. Retrieved 2010-10-17. 

• James Decalo. Historical Dictionary of Niger. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ - London (1979) ISBN 0810812290
• WorldStatesmen- Niger

External links

• pbase.com:Images of Dosso city.

Coordinates: 13°03′N 03°12′E / 13.05°N 3.2°E / 13.05; 3.2