Agadez

Agadez is the most important city of the north of the Niger, located between the Sahara and the Sahel. The word Agadez would come from the verb egdez which wants to say in Tamasheq, to visit. Indeed, the Touaregs went in this city only in visit because the remainder of time, they nomadisaient in bush.

Geography

Agadez is located at 900 kilometers in the north of Niamey, in the south of the Massif of the Air, towards the mouth of the plain of Ighazer.

It is the place chief of an area which makes and half France once, that is to say 615.000 km ².

Its geographical coordinates are: 7°59' 00 E 16°58' 00 NR.

The communal territory is crossed by two rivers in temporary matter (the kori irgazer madaran and the kori Teloua).

History

Based at the 11th century on a strategic place: with the crossing of the Trans-Saharan main roads, its economy developed thanks to the trade caravaneer primarily as from the 16th century. It is at that time that it would have supplanted the old capital of the Aïr: Assodé, destroyed by tribal wars and which she would have known her hour of glory.

Leon the African in the seventh book of its Description of Africa describes it as follows: " girded city of murailles" , " the houses are extremely well bâties" , " sumptuous palais". Agadez keeps the vestiges of its walls until in the years 1960.

In 1850, Heinrich Barth, celebrates exploring German discovers a city in ruins. There remains one month there but one can still today visit, in the old city, the house in Banco in which he remained.

With the beginning of the year 1970 and 1980, low registers Sécheresse S have constrained many Nomades has to leave the bush to come to find refuge downtown. Agadez then accommodated these newcomers of the rural Exode, which because of the problems of housing, cleansing and water supply.

It counts today 100.000 inhabitants (Haoussa S, Touaregs, Peuhl S, Songhaï S, Kanouri S, Arab S) and of many clandestine migrants who are not listed. Agadez is very known for its mosques. Today four mosques of Friday and 79 mosques of district are counted. Most known among it is the large mosque dating from XVIe century and whose construction is allotted to Zakarya. (see photo)

Economy

Agadez profits to a certain extent benefit drawn from the mines from Uranium from its area with Arlit and Akokan. At the time of the tourist season, October in February, the city knows a certain effervescence with the arrival of many tourists arriving in flights international charters directly at the airport Mano Dayak and coming to visit the Aïr and the Ténéré. The craft industry holds an important place within the economy. The Forgerons ( inadan ) manufacture silver jewels (cross of Agadez), swords (takoubas), objects of wood (beds, spoons), decorated saddles, while their wives deal with all the objects out of leather (sandals). They are gathered in co-operatives and practice a craft industry of quality.

See too

Agadez (area)

External bonds

http://www.agadez.org site on Niger North - arts, cultures, history etc Gallery photographs of Michel Batlle " portraits of women touarègues"
interactive Chart More on the main cities of Niger
http://www.agadez-niger.com/ Site devoted to the town of Agadez and the Tuaregs. Contribution of the community via the galleries photographs and the forums.

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