Living in Kano can be very alluring if you are observant. It is a timeless blend of the past and the present. You are in 2023 but you can see 1423. The state is history intertwined with modernity. It is not surprising that Kano people are very proud of their heritage. They say, ‘Kano tumbin Giwa, koda me kazo, an fi ka’. Loosely translated it means ‘Kano, the trunk of an elephant, no matter what you come with, Kano is greater than it.’
Kano started from DALA HILLS, that was the nucleus from where the city spread to what it is today. Worthy to note is that in the 1900s, Kofar Nasarawa (Nasarawa gate) was given to the white settlers while Sabon Gari (new town or strangers’ quarters) was allocated to Southerners to settle in. also, the major occupation here is trade. Every town (angwan) has it’s market (kasuwar).
To see the core of Kano, you would have to visit the city. The city is enclosed within the ancient walls and gates. You’ve probably heard of the Great Wall of China, Kano city wall was the African version. The city wall has 15 gates as it was in the ancient times.
We started from GIDAN MAKAMA MUSEUM. It was the temporary site for the King’s palace before the 1500s. In it are artifacts, old relics, ancient weapons, musical instruments, household items etc.
Then we visited the origin of Kano - DALA HILLS.
There is a stairway that one would climb instead of hiking.
There are shards from pottery and tools that the ancients used buried deep in the sand. From the hill top, you can see the whole Kano municipal. The hill was a place of idol worship, the Tsumburbura (a diety) was worshipped before the advent of Islam.
We could not go to the Emir’s palace unfortunately.
Kano state is unlike any other state in Northern Nigeria. It is a very old civilization and was the largest kingdom of Hausas in Africa for centuries and is still one of the core Hausa states in Nigeria. It was also pivotal to the spread of Islam in the North. What is most amazing is how they have preserved the heritage over the years. While driving through town, you can see some old structures and walls that are standing or have been modified to avoid collapse.
The oldest market (Kasuwar Kurmi) in Kano is more than 500 years, it drew a lot of traders in ancient times and still exists today!
Kanawan Dabo!