Kano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kano Kano Kano Population (2007) - Total Time zone - Summer (DST) 3,848,885 estimated [1] CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+1) Kano is the administrative center of the Kano State and the third largest city in Nigeria, in terms of geographical size, after Ibadan and Lagos. In population, it is the second most populous city (with a population of 3,848,885) in the country after Lagos. The city’s traditional ruler is the Emir of Kano, and the current Emir, Ado Bayero, has been on the throne since 1963. History Foundation and Hausa rule Kano seen from Dala Hill 1850 steel engraving of Kano In the 7th century, Dala Hill, a hill in Kano, was the site of a group of a community that engaged in iron-working; it is unknown whether these were Hausa people or speakers of Niger-Congo languages.[2] Kano was originally known as Dala, after the hill, and was referred to as such as late as the end of the fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth by Bornoan sources.[3] The Kano Chronicle identifies Barbushe, a priest of a Dalla Hill spirit, as the city’s first settler. (Elizabeth Isichei notes that the description of Barbushe is similar to those of Sao people.)[4] According to the Kano Chronicle, Bagauda, a grandson of the mythical hero Kano Map of Nigeria showing the location of Kano Coordinates: 12°00′N 8°31′E / 12°N 8.517°E / 12; 8.517 State Government - Governor Kano State Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP) 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bayajidda,[5] became the first king of Kano in 999, reigning until 1063.[6] (Small chiefdoms were previously present in the area.)[7] His grandson Gijimasu (1095-1134), the third king, began building city walls at the foot of Dalla Hill, and his own son, Tsaraki (1136-1194), the fifth king, completed them during his reign.[7] Kano authority.[11] Since then the Fulani emirs have remained traditional leaders of [12] Kano. The city suffered famines from 1807-10, in the 1830s, 1847, 1855, 1863, 1873, 1884, and from 1889 until 1890.[13] From 1893 until 1895, two rival claimants for the throne fought a civil war, or Basasa. With the help of royal slaves, Yusufu was victorious over Tukur, and claimed the title of emir.[14] British colonization and rule Kano in December 1930. Air photo taken by Swiss pilot and photographer Walter Mittelholzer. British forces captured Kano in 1903 and made it the administrative centre of Northern Nigeria. It was replaced as the centre of government by Kaduna, and only regained administrative significance with the creation of Kano State following Nigerian independence. From 1913 to 1914, as the groundnut business was expanding, Kano suffered a major drought, which caused a famine.[15] Other famines during British rule occurred in 1908, 1920, 1927, 1943, 1951, 1956, and 1958.[13] By 1922, groundnut trader Alhassan Dantata had become the richest businessman in Kano, surpassing fellow merchants Umaru Sharubutu Koki and Maikano Agogo.[16] In May 1953, an inter-ethnic riot arose due to southern newspapers misreporting on the nature of a disagreement between northern and southern politicians in the House of Representatives.[17] Thousands of Nigerians of southern origin died as a result of the riot.[18] Gate to the Gidan Rumfa in 2005 Muhammad Rumfa ascended to the throne in 1463 and reigned until 1499. During his reign, he reformed the city, expanded the Sahelian Gidan Rumfa (Emir’s Palace), and played a role in the further Islamization of the city,[8] as he urged prominent residents to convert.[9] The Kano Chronicle attributes a total of twelve "innovations" to Rumfa.[10] According to the Kano Chronicle, the thirty-seventh Sarkin Kano (King of Kano) was Mohammed Sharef (1703–1731). His successor, Kumbari dan Sharefa (1731–1743), engaged in major battles with Sokoto. Fulani conquest and rule See also: Fulani Jihad At the beginning of the 19th century, Fulani Islamic leader Usman dan Fodio led a jihad against Kano, removing its Hausa king and reforming the government and religious Post-independence history Ado Bayero became Emir of Kano in 1963. 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In December 1980, radical preacher Mohammed Marwa Maitatsine led riots in Kano. He was killed by security forces, but his followers later started uprisings in other northern cities.[19] After the introduction of sharia in Kano State in 2000, many Christians left the city.[20] 100 people were killed in riots over the sharia issue during October 2001.[12] Kano Kano Mosque. In November 2007, political violence broke out in the city after the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) accused the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) of rigging the November 17, 2007 local government elections.[21] (The ANPP won in 36 of the state’s 44 Local Government Areas.)[22] Hundreds of youths took to the streets, over 300 of whom were arrested; at least 25 people were killed. Buildings set on fire include a sharia police station, an Islamic centre, and a council secretariat. 280 federal soldiers were deployed around the city.[23] Elaborately dressed horseman returns after paying tribute to Emir of Kano during the Durbar of October 2006 Bayero University and a railway station with trains to Lagos routed through Kaduna, while Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport lies nearby. Because Kano is north of the rail junction at Kaduna, it has equal access to the seaports at Lagos and Port Harcourt. Formerly walled, most of the gates to the Old City survive. The Old City houses the vast Kurmi Market, known for its crafts, while old dye pits – still in use – lie nearby. Also in the Old City are the Emir’s Palace, the Great Mosque, and the Gidan Makama Mosque. Kano has six districts. They are the Old City, Bompai, Fagge, Sabon Gari, Syrian Quarter, and Nassarawa.[25] As of November 2007, there are plans to establish an information technology park in the city.[26] Demographics Kano is largely Muslim. The majority of Kano Muslims are Sunni, though a minority adhere to the Shia branch (see Shia in Nigeria). Christians and followers of other non-Muslim religions form a small part of the population, and traditionally lived in the Sabon Gari, or Foreign Quarter. Christians alone comprise about 1% of the population.[12] Layout and geography Kano is situated at 12°00′N 8°31′E / 12°N 8.517°E / 12; 8.517Coordinates: 12°00′N 8°31′E / 12°N 8.517°E / 12; 8.517.[24] It has long been the economic centre of northern Nigeria, and a centre for the production and export of groundnuts. Kano houses the Durbar Festival The Emir of Kano hosts a Durbar to mark and celebrate the two annual Muslim festivals and Eid-ul-Fitr (to mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (to mark 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the Hajj Holy Pilgrimage). The Durbar culminates in a procession of highly elaborately dressed horsemen who pass through the city to the Emir’s palace. Once assembled near the palace, groups of horsemen, each group representing a nearby village, take it in turns to charge towards the Emir, pulling up just feet in front of the seated dignitaries to offer their respect and allegiance. Kano References [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] articles.php?lng=en&pg=25. Retrieved on 2007-05-05. [10] Nast, p. 61 [11] Ado-Kurawa, Ibrahim. "Brief History of Kano 999 to 2003". Kano State Website. http://www.kanostate.net/ Support%20Files/ Brief%20History%20of%20Kano%20999%20to%2020 Retrieved on 2007-07-12. [12] ^ "Kano: Nigeria’s ancient city-state". BBC online (BBC). 2004-05-20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/ ""The World Gazetteer"". 3708309.stm. Retrieved on 2007-07-12. http://www.world-gazetteer.com/ [13] ^ Milich, Lee (1997-07-17). "Food wg.php?men=gpro&des=gamelan&geo=367218852. Security in Pre-Colonial Hausaland". Retrieved on 2007-04-06. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Iliffe, John (2007). Africans: The History http://ag.arizona.edu/~lmilich/ of a Continent. Cambridge University afoodsec.html. Retrieved on 2007-10-26. Press. p. 75. ISBN 0521864380. [14] Stilwell, Sean (2000). "Power, Honour Nast, Heidi J (2005). Concubines and and Shame: The Ideology of Royal Power: Five Hundred Years in a Slavery in the Sokoto Caliphate". Africa: Northern Nigerian Palace. University of Journal of the International African Minnesota Press. p. 60. ISBN Institute, (Edinburgh University Press) 0816641544. 70 (3): 394–421. doi:10.2307/1161067. Isichei, Elizabeth (1997). A History of http://links.jstor.org/ African Societies to 1870. Cambridge sici?sici=0001-9720(2000)70%3A3%3C394%3APHAS University Press. p. 234. ISBN Retrieved on 2007-10-26. 0521455995. http://books.google.com/ [15] Christelow, Allan (1987). "Property and books?pg=PA234&lpg=PA234&source=web&sig=B- in Kano at the Dawn of the Theft WHTczRAIvifGTdNCXtTBDlIO4&id=LgnhYDozENgC&ots=sFYM5i0daf. Groundnut Boom, 1912-1914". The Okehie-Offoha, Marcellina; Matthew N. International Journal of African O. Sadiku (December 1995). Ethnic and Historical Studies (Boston University Cultural Diversity in Nigeria. Africa African Studies Center) 20 (2): 225–243. World Press. p. 40. ISBN doi:10.2307/219841. 978-0865432833. http://links.jstor.org/ "Kano". Britannica Online. Encyclopædia sici?sici=0361-7882(1987)20%3A2%3C225%3APATIK Britannica, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-10-26. http://www.britannica.com/eb/ [16] Dan-Asabe, Abdulkarim Umar article-9039547/Hausa. (November 2000). "Biography of Select ^ Ki-Zerbo, Joseph (1998). UNESCO Kano Merchants, 1853-1955" ( – Scholar search). FAIS Journal of Humanities 1 (2). General History of Africa, Vol. IV, Abridged Edition: Africa from the http://www.kanostate.net/ Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century. Support%20Files/ University of California Press. p. 107. Biography%20of%20Select%20Kano%20Merchants.h ISBN 0520066995. Retrieved on 2007-10-09. "Caravans Across the Desert: [17] Ernest E., Uwazie; Isaac Olawale Albert Marketplace". AFRICA: One Continent. and G. N. Uzoigwe (1999). "The Role of Many Worlds.. Natural History Museum Communication in the Escalation of of Los Angeles County Foundation. Ethnic and Religious Conflicts". Interhttp://www.nhm.org/africa/tour/desert/ Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution 030.htm. Retrieved on 2007-05-06. in Nigeria. Lexington Books. p. 20. ISBN "50 Greatest Africans - Sarki Muhammad 0739100335. Rumfa & Emperor Semamun". When We [18] Uwazie et al., p. 73 Ruled. Every Generation Media. [19] Hunwick, John Owen; Ibrahim Gambari http://www.whenweruled.com/ (chapter author) (1992). "The Role of Religion in National Life: Reflections on 4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kano Recent Experiences in Nigeria". Religion [24] ""The Fallingrain.com Gazetteer"". and National Integration in Africa: Islam, http://www.fallingrain.com/world/NI/0/ Christianity and Politics in the Sudan Kano.html. Retrieved on 2007-04-06. and Nigeria. Northwestern University [25] "Kano". Encyclopædia Britannica. Press. p. 90. ISBN 0810110377. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. [20] "Nigeria’s Kano state celebrates Sharia". 2007. BBC News. 2000-06-21. [26] "Nigerian city of Kano plans IT park". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/ Panapress (Afriquenligne). 2007-11-04. 798630.stm. Retrieved on 2007-11-04. http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/daily[21] "Army patrols Kano after clashes". news/nigerian-city-of-kano-plans-itNews.BBC.com (BBC News). 2007-11-21. park-2007110410666/. Retrieved on http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/ 2007-11-04. 7105790.stm. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. [22] Karofi, Hassan A; Halima Musa (2007-11-21). "ANPP Sweeps Kano LG • Maconachie, Roy (2007). Urban Growth Polls". Daily Trust online. and Land Degradation in Developing http://dailytrust.com/ Cities: Change and index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5253&Itemid=45. Challenges in Kano, Nigeria. King’s SOAS Studies in Retrieved on 2007-11-21. Development Geography. Ashgate [23] Shuaibu, Ibrahim (2007-11-21). "Kano Publishing. ISBN 9780754648284. Death Toll Rises to 25". Thisday online (Leaders & Company). http://www.thisdayonline.com/ nview.php?id=95856. Retrieved on • Kano Online 2007-11-21. • Durbar Information Further reading External links Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kano" Categories: Kano, Cities, towns and villages in Kano State, Nigerian state capitals This page was last modified on 20 May 2009, at 17:41 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) taxdeductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers 5