KANO ANCIENT CITY & CITY WALLS
Kano City, Kano State
Walk through one of West Africa's historic commercial and cultural centres.
- History
- Architecture
- Trade
- Heritage
About
Kano's ancient city developed as a major centre of Hausa civilisation, trade, scholarship and craftsmanship.
Its historic landscape includes the ancient city walls, Dala Hill, Kurmi Market and the Emir's Palace.
History & Cultural Significance
Construction of the city walls began during the reign of Sarki Gijimasu in the late 11th and early 12th centuries and continued over subsequent generations.
The walls helped protect the growing city and controlled movement through its gates. Kano later became an important centre of trans-Saharan commerce, connecting markets in West Africa with trading networks extending across the Sahara.
Kurmi Market remains associated with traditional crafts including leatherwork, textiles, metalwork and other goods.
What Visitors Can Experience
- - Historic city gates
- - Dala Hill
- - Kurmi Market
- - Traditional crafts
- - Emirate architecture
- - Hausa urban culture
- - Historic trading routes
The ancient city walls and associated sites are on Nigeria's UNESCO Tentative List
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