Quick answerKano is a city in Nigeria, with 2,828,861 people inside the city limits in 2006. The wider metropolitan area had about 4.6 million people in 2006. It is best known for the Ancient city walls, the Kofar Mata dye pits and the Kurmi Market. Its official language is English, and its currency is the Nigerian naira.
Kano is Nigeria's second-largest city, with about 2.8 million people in the 2006 census and about 4.6 million in the metropolitan area. It stands on the Sahel edge of northern Nigeria and is famous for its ancient city walls and indigo dye pits.
Key facts
| Country | Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 2,828,861 (2006) |
| Population (metro) | 4,645,320 (2006) · Kano metropolitan area |
| Elevation | 488 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Lagos |
| Language | English |
| Currency | Nigerian naira (NGN, ₦) |
| Coordinates | 12° N, 8.517° E |
Overview
Kano is Nigeria's second-largest city and the commercial heart of the Muslim north, on the Sahel edge of the country. The city counted 2,828,861 people in the 2006 census, with about 4.2 million in the urban area and 4.6 million in the metropolitan area. It stands at 488 metres above sea level, at 12.00° N, 8.52° E.
Kano was founded in 999 CE and grew rich on trans-Saharan trade in leather, cloth and kola nuts. Its ancient city walls, first built in the 11th century, still ring the old city, and the Kofar Mata dye pits have coloured cloth with indigo for centuries. Kano was the capital of the Kano Emirate and remains the seat of the Emir of Kano.
Today Kano is a trading and manufacturing city, famous for its Kurmi Market, one of the largest in West Africa, for leatherwork and textiles, and for the Durbar, the colourful horse parade held for Muslim festivals.
What Kano is known for
- Ancient city walls
- Kofar Mata dye pits
- Kurmi Market
- Durbar festival
- Leatherwork and textiles
Landmarks
- Kano City Walls
- Gidan Makama Museum
- Kurmi Market
- Kofar Mata Dye Pits
- Emir's Palace
- Dala Hill
- Great Mosque of Kano
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kano?
About 2.8 million people were counted in Kano in the 2006 census (2,828,861), with about 4.2 million in the urban area and about 4.6 million in the metropolitan area. That makes Kano Nigeria's second-largest city, after Lagos, and the largest city in the north.
What is Kano famous for?
Kano is famous for its ancient city walls, the Kofar Mata dye pits that have coloured cloth with indigo for centuries, and Kurmi Market, one of the largest markets in West Africa. It is also known for leatherwork, textiles and the colourful Durbar horse parade.
Where is Kano located?
Kano is in northern Nigeria, on the edge of the Sahel, about 800 kilometres north of Abuja. It is the capital of Kano State and the commercial centre of the Muslim north. Its coordinates are 12.00° N, 8.52° E, and it stands 488 metres above sea level.
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Keep exploring
- Nigeria — the country Kano is in
- Lagos — another city in Nigeria
- Ibadan — another city in Nigeria
- Abuja — another city in Nigeria
- All cities in Nigeria
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.