Kano is one of the nicest cities to visit in Nigeria. It has been one of the most important trading towns for the Hausa, who had a big empire in the 18-th and 19-th century and are still one of the most influential people of Nigeria. On the edge of the Sahel (the fringe of the Sahara) Kano has many cultural and historical links to the tribes of the southern Sahara.
One of the seven Hausa city-states, Kano's written history dates back to 999, when the city was already several hundred years old. The legend continues that they were descended from a common ancestor called Kano, who reportedly migrated from Gaya (near the present town of Kano) to explore the surrounding areas for iron ore and charcoal. The discovery of stone tools indicates prehistoric settlement of the site, which was selected as the capital of Hausa state of Kano in the reign (1095–1134) of King Gajemasu. It was a cultural, handicraft, and commercial centre, with wide trade contacts in Africa. In the early 16th century Kano accepted Islam. The city reached the height of its power in the 17th and 18th cent. In 1809 it was conquered by the Fulani, but it soon regained its leading commercial position.
Kano has arduous climate with relative, wide and rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Humidity at times can rise up to about 100% in an area considered. Rainfall is concentrated from June to September and the rains are preceded by strong dust storms followed by tornadoes mainly during the month of May and at the close of rain in September and early October.
Kano is the trade and shipping centre for an agricultural region where cotton, cattle, and about half of Nigeria's groundnuts are raised. Kano is the major industrial centre of North Nigeria. Steel furniture, concrete blocks, shoes, cotton textiles, processed meat, peanut flour and oil and, soap are the chief manufactures. The city has long been known for its leatherwork; its tanned goatskins were sent (from about 15th century) to North Africa and were known in Europe as Morocco leather. Other economic activities in the State include livestock rearing, poultry, wood and calabash carvings, weaving, dyeing, fishing, tanning and traditional architecture.
The Mallam Aminu Kano International airport situated in the outskirts of the city operates a number of regular flights to domestic and international destinations. The national road system links all the main centres, although in some areas secondary roads become impassable during the rains. Traffic drives on the right. The city is served by the railway network between Nguru and Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Great Britain did little to promote education during the colonial period. Until 1950 most schools were operated by Christian missionary bodies, which introduced Western-style education into Nigeria beginning in the mid-19th century. Today primary education, free and compulsory, begins at age six and lasts for six years. Secondary education consists of two three-year cycles. Kano hosts Bayero University, Kano State Institute for Higher Education, an Arabic law school, several teacher-training institutes, a state polytechnic college, and an agricultural (peanut) research institute among others. The British Council Library and Kano State Library are located in the city too.
Kano is also famous as a tourist destination. The landscape is rich in beautiful sights, lakes and rivers. The other attractions of Kano are the museums that showcase the past of the city, historical monuments, mosques and big market places. The city is home to a large number of historical and cultural museums. Most of them feature local art and handicrafts exhibitions. Other tourist attractions in Kano include: Kano Zoological Gardens, Baguada Dam, The Dye Pits, Alliance francaise de Kano.
Kano has a rich history of being a city at the epicentre of famous trans-Saharan trade, meeting point of entrepreneurs from as far as Asia and Middle East, and a city known for its groundnut pyramid built with bags of groundnuts ready for export. The old city consists of 16 gates and the largest market of the town, Kurmi Market. Kurmi market is one of the oldest as well largest local markets in the entire continent of Africa. The market is a maze of narrow alley that used to be a mangrove forest with Jakara river flowing through it.
The Emir's Palace is situated at the south of the mosque which is an ancient landmark in the city. It was built in the 15th century by Sarkin Rumfa (also Rimfa). The architectural style is traditional and the beautiful, large grounds are well maintained.
The Durbar festival is celebrated at the culmination of the two great Muslim festivals Eid al Fitr and Eid al Kabir (Eid al Adha). On the big day, in Katsina and Kano, there is a parade of ornately dressed horsemen, Emirs dressed in ceremonial robes, muscle-bound wrestlers and lute players in headdresses. The day begins with prayers outside each town, followed by processions of horsemen to the public square in front of the Emir's palace. Here, each village group takes their assigned place before the Emir arrives last of all with his splendid retinue. Groups of horsemen then race across the square at full gallop with swords drawn, pass a few feet from the Emir and stop to salute him. After all the action, the Emir and his chiefs retire to the palace and drumming, dancing and singing continue into the night.
