[4] Today the palace of the Sultanate of Dosso remains as a symbol of the aristocratic ruling class of the kingdom.

The region was traditionally populated by Zarma people who are believed to have migrated from the Lake Débo area of what is now Mali during the time of the Songhai Empire.

[5] Dosso is the regional capital; other major settlements include Birni N'Gaouré, Dioundiou, Dogondoutchi, Falmey, Gaya, Loga and Tibiri (Doutchi).

[11] The main ethnolinguistic groups are the Fulani, Hausa, Tuareg and Zarma (also referred to as 'Djerma').

[12] The region is also a major centre of the Maouri, a Hausa sub-group who have retained their traditional animist belief.