DOCUMENTARY: Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Kano City

 By Victor Olubiye

1.Ancient City with Over 2,000 Years of History

Kano is one of the oldest inhabited cities in West Africa, with human settlement tracing back over 2,000 years. The Kano Kingdom formally began in 999 AD under King Dawud Bagauda, the founding ancestor of the Hausa Sarauta (royalty) in Kano.

2.Home of the Great Kano City Wall (Ganuwar Kano)

Built between the 11th to 14th centuries, the building started during the reign of King Gijimasu, the Kano City Wall was among the largest city walls in sub-Saharan Africa, built for defense and prestige — a symbol of Kano’s power and urban advancement.

3.Center of Islamic Scholarship

Kano has been a major hub for Islamic learning and scholarship since the 14th century, attracting scholars, clerics, and students from across the Sahel, Maghreb, and West Africa.

4.Renowned for Dyeing and Textile Production

The ancient Kofar Mata dye pits, some of the oldest active dye pits in the world, are famous for their deep indigo textiles, a major export in trans-Saharan trade routes.

5.Home of Kurmi Market — One of Africa’s Oldest Markets

Kurmi Market, established by Sarki Muhammadu Rumfa the Great in the 15th century, became a major commercial hub, attracting traders from North Africa, the Middle East, and West Africa.

6.From Kingdom to Sultanate to Emirate

Kano evolved from a Hausa kingdom between the 9th to 13th centuries, then transformed into a Sultanate under Sultan Ali Yaji (14th century) who introduced Islam and Jihad reforms, and later into an Emirate under the Sokoto Caliphate following the Fulani Jihad of 1804.

7.Kano Chronicle — A Priceless Historical Record

The Kano Chronicle, written in Arabic, documents the dynastic history of Kano's rulers, chronicling their reigns, achievements, and the evolution of the city-state. It is one of the most important indigenous African historical texts.

8.Agricultural and Commercial Powerhouse

Kano has long been known for agriculture and trade, producing and exporting cotton, groundnuts, leather, hides, grains, and livestock across Africa and beyond.

9.Second Largest City in Nigeria

Kano is the largest city in Northern Nigeria and one of the biggest in the country. It serves as a commercial, cultural, and political capital for millions of Hausa and non-Hausa communities.

10.Rich in Hausa Culture and Festivals

From Hawan Sallah (Durbar festivals) to traditional Hausa music, attire, cuisine, crafts, and storytelling, Kano is a vibrant cultural capital preserving and showcasing Hausa heritage and pride.

Kano: A Legacy of Power, Culture, and Trade

From ancient civilization to royal dynasty, from Islamic scholarship to bustling trade routes Kano's legacy lives on as a proud symbol of Hausa greatness and African ingenuity. A city that not only witnessed history but shaped it.