BRIEF ON KANO STATE OF NIGERIA

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

The state of Kano, which took its name from the capital city, lies between latitude 10 30’N and 13’N and between Longitude 7 40 and 1035’E. It has an area of about 20,760 square kilometers with an official estimated population of over 9.6 million people, based on the 2006 population census figures. Kano city and its environs are officially termed as Kano metropolitan, at a mean height of 472.45ft above sea level, which makes it the largest city in the whole of Northern Nigeria. The minimum and maximum temperature range from 33c and 15.86oC and fall as low as 10oC during Harmattan season, between December and February; rainfall ranges from 500 mm in the North, 1,200 in the South.

The most important Geographical features in the description of Kano City are the two prominent and historical hills of DALA and GORON DUTSE, rising to the height of 453.67 and 517.59 meters, respectively, which were identified as the beginning of settlement in the region. The pyramid shaped-like rocks, which resemble those of the ancient Egyptian civilization were, according to oral traditions, named after the King and Queen of the earliest community that settled around it. Gwauro (the King) was said to have been buried herewith the Dark Hand rock after his death, while his wife Dala (the Queen) was buried under the red sand hill.

  How and when this red-sandy hill formed was not actually known, since the nature and type of this sand cannot be found in any other part of Kasar Kano.  This equally suggests that, it might have been built as a palace dome for the then rulers of Kano, as happened in the ancient Egyptian civilizations. This earliest community, which clustered around the Rocks of Dala and Goron Dutse, was referred to as the capital of Gazarzawa territory before it was later renamed as Dala region (Kasar Dala) probably, after the first generation of inhabitants had entirely perished thousands of years ago. Classical historians and archaeologists asserted that, settlements around Dala and Goron Dutse Hills can be traced to the period when man became a Homo sapien.

Kano’s history as one of the seven Hausa states, as a kingdom, as an Emirate during the post Jihad period, as a province during the colonial period and later as a Federating state from the post- colonial period, had been relatively stable. Its fame as a kingdom started in AD 999, when Bagauda, the grandson of Bayajida and founder of the Hausa dynasty became its first king. Since early days of Kano has potentially been engaging in trade, commerce, industry and political stability; it became attractive to immigrants from far and near to come and settle permanently. The accommodation and open mindedness of the people is a reflection of the liberal traditional of its founders.

PEOPLE

The modern state of Kano however, was created in July 1967 and formally came into being on 1st April, 1968 with 20 local government areas. After several state creations and border demarcations, Kano now has a total 44 local government councils.

The people of Kano are predominantly Hausa speaking but later came to be identified as Hausa-Fulani ethnic groups due to assimilated culture and intermarriages between the two tribes. Other ethnic groups included the Kanuris, Nupes, Igbos, Yoruba and a large segment of other non-indigenous population. Kano’s cosmopolitan and heterogeneous character in addition to the liberal tradition of tolerance and accommodation leads to mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. As a center of commerce and industry; famous for its weaving, smithing,dyeing and other handcraft industries ,Kano became a natural attraction to clerics scholars and business men from far and wide, who came and settled permanently. This degree of accommodation in Kano reached the extent that, immigrants were given full respects, privilege and honors. Fortune seekers, traders and other enterprising tribes trooped in to make Kano their permanent abode, leading to the establishment of serval settlements in the city, bearing names of their Founders like Tundun Nupawa, for Nupes, Unguwar Ayagi for Yorubas, Zangon barebari for Kanuris, and Dandalin Turawa for the Arabs, who came during the Trans-Saharan trade. Many of these non-indigenes were appointed bona-fide members of the Kano Emirate Councils, while others hold various position in the Native Authority and state Government as well. All the tribal groups have their recognized larders turbaned and given the official instruments by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, who is also the Traditional ruler of the state. No other people in Nigeria are as detribalized as the Kano people.     

LANGUAGE:

Although Hausa is the predominant language spoken in Kano by the indigenous and non-indigenous people, English is the official language in Government and Educational Institutions, as well as modern business transactions. Arabic is also spoken by numerous settlers, as well as the indigenes with Arabic affinities; ‘Fidgin English’.

Yoruba, Igbo, Kanuri and Igbira are also extensively spoken by the ‘settler’ groups.

CULTURE

As one of the prominent Hausa states and the Trans-Saharan entre-port, Kano has a rich and clarions culture past history, which the people have jealously preserve since the 14th century. Festivities, cultural entertainment, local boxing and wrestling, as well as the famous Durbar characterize the socio-cultural life of the people. The state is abundantly blessed with ingenious craftsman, blacksmith, cloth makers, creative Artist, poets and builders. The mud-architectural structures, the defensive wall (Ganuwa), which surrounds the old city with its gates, are all a reflection of the architectural skills of the people in the Kano Kingdom. Elephant truck carving, locally woven cloth and the beautiful decoration gourds and calabashes, which are found in local markets and selected shopping areas, are all indications of the people’s industrious and entertaining disposition.      

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is the mainstay of the state economy with over 70% of the population engaged in the profession as full time professional activity. Among the important food crops produced are sorghum, maize, millet, rice, beans, cassava, potao, wheat etc. Other cash crops produced in the state include: cowpeas, cotton, ginger, gum Arabic, groundnuts and wide range of vegetables. During the colonial period, when Nigeria was exporting groundnut, Kano was producing about 50% of the total export quantities. Groundnut pyramids used to be a symbol of Kano’s fame up to the post-independence period.

MANUFACURING AND COMMERCE

Kano city is the second largest industrial and commercial centers in Nigeria. The trans-Saharan trade has attracted a large presence of Lebanese merchants, and this continued until present day and whose contribution to it industrialization has been substantial. Today, there are over 300 large and medium industrial establishments in Kano State, located in Bompai, Chalawa, Tokarawa and Sharada industrial areas. Kano is Nigeria’s centre of commerce, where people from different parts of the country, as well as from neighboring countries of West Africa come to conduct business transactions.