Discover the city of Niamey, Niger

Today we'll get to know about the exciting and interesting city of Niamey, the capital and industrial center of Niger. Niamey is home to most of Niger's places of interest like the Niger National Museum, French and Nigerian cultural centers among others. The people of Niamey are very welcoming and trust me you might want to place this city at the top of your travel list. Before we continue, consider subscribing to our channel if you're new. Also turn on our notification to always get notified each time we drop a video. Stay tuned. Niamey is the capital and largest city of Niger. Niamey lies on the Niger River primarily situated at the east bank. Niamey's population was counted as 1,026,848 as of the 2020 census. With 2020 estimates, Niamey has a population of 1,334,984 and this shows that the capital district's 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 center 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 Zinda in 1912. Zinda's proximity from the Nigerian border and distance from the 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 Alit. 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 in 1978, in the process annexing peripheral villages such as Lazaret. Continuing droughts also caused many rural Nigerians to move to the growing city. The city of Niamey is located in the pale 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 center, and exhibits including dinosaur skeletons and the tree of Tseneri. Other places of interest include the American, French, and Nigerian cultural centers, market centers including the large Niamey Grand Market, a traditional wrestling arena, and a horse racing track. Most of the colorful pottery sold in Niamey is handmade in the nearby village of Boubon. The cuisine of Niamey draws on traditional African cuisines. Various spices are used and meals including grilled meats, 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 also a favorite for salad. Niger being a predominantly Muslim country, mosques are the most common places of worship, with the Grand Mosque being the largest in the city. There are also various Christian churches, most notably Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral and the Cathedral du Moray. Niamey makes up a special capital district of Niger which is surrounded by the region of Tilaberi. Niamey is served by the Duri-Hamani International Airport located 12 kilometers 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. If you are yet to subscribe to our channel, kindly consider subscribing. Give this video a like if you enjoyed it and feel free to drop a comment in the comment section below. Thanks for watching.