For other uses of the word Kano see Kano (disambiguation).

Map of Nigeria

Kano is the administrative center of the Kano State and the largest city in northern Nigeria, with a population of 1,166,554 (2004).

It has long been an economic centre of the northern half of Nigeria, and a centre for the production and export of groundnuts. Kano houses a university, an international airport and one of the nation's most prestigious mosques. It has long been a centre of Islamic culture in Nigeria. Parts of the ancient mud-walled-city still remain.

Christians and followers of non-muslim religions form only a small part of the population, and traditionally lived in the Sabon Gari, or Foreign Quarter. In the 1970s and again in 2001 there were inter religious riots in which hundreds are reported to have died - most recently over the introduction of Islamic sharia law.

History

The city of Kano was founded around the year 1000 as an independent Hausa city-state. Kano remained a leading independent emirate or kingdom until the creation of the Nigerian Nation-state in 1903. Kano grew prosperous on the trans-saharan trade in gold, leather, ivory, salt and slaves, perhaps reaching the height of its wealth and power in the 14th Century, when Islam gained a growing adherence. By the 15th Centurythe first Central Mosque had been erected in the city.

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 neighbouring Sokoto.

At the beginning of the 19th Century, Fulani Islamic leader Usman dan Fodio led a jihad again st Kano, removing its Hausa Emir and reforming the government and religious authority. Since then the Fulani Emirs have remained traditional leaders of Kano. British forces captured the city in 1903.

Kano was replaced as the centre of government for the Northern Region of Nigeria by Kaduna, and only regained administrative significance with the creation of Kano State following Nigerian Independence.