The lands comprising the present Republic of Niger are inhabited by the Zarma (or Jarma) in the west, the Hausa in the south, the Kanuri in the far east towards L. Chad, and by numerous groups of Tuareg in the central and northern areas. The principal centres of Islamic learning in former times were the town of Agades in southern Aïr, and Tagidda (or Takedda), a complex of settlements about 100 miles NW of Agades, and the related settlement of Anu Ṣamman. In the late twentieth century Dosso beca…