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Kano

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''For other uses of the word Kano see '''Kano (disambiguation)'''.'' Image:Locator Map Kano-Nigeria.png thumb|250px|Location of Kano in Nigeria '''Kano''' is the administrative center of the Kano State and the third largest city in Nigeria, with a population of 1,166,554 (2004), after Lagos and Ibadan. It has long been the economic centre of northern Nigeria, and a centre for the production and export of groundnut groundnuts. Kano houses a university and a railway station with trains to Lagos routed through Kaduna, while Kano International Airport lies nearby. Kano has long been a centre for Nigeria's Islamic culture; one of the country's finest mosques lies in the city. Formerly city wall 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 pit dye pits – still in use – lie nearby. Also in the Old City are the 15th century Sahelian architecture Sahelian Emir's Palace, neighbouring Kano Central Mosque and the Gidan Makama Mosque. The Gida Dan Hausa house is another architecturally notable building. Christians and followers of other 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 people Hausa city-state. Kano remained a leading independent emirate or monarchy kingdom until the creation of the Nigerian nation state in 1903. Kano grew to be a prosperous centre for trans-Saharan trade in gold, leather, ivory, salt and slavery slaves, perhaps reaching the height of its wealth and power in the 14th Century, when Islam gained a growing following. By the 15th Century the 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 against 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. The current Emir of Kano, Dr. Ado Abdullahi Bayero has been on the throne since 1962. 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. Kano is perhaps the most politically active state in Nigeria with everyone including women and children participating actively in politics.

Transport
Because Kano is north of the rail junction at Kaduna, it has equal access to the seaports at Lagos and Port Harcourt. Category:Cities in Nigeria Category:Nigerian state capitals da:Kano (by) de:Kano eo:Kano (urbo) es:Kano fi:Kano fr:Kano ha:Kano it:Kano nl:Kano (stad) nn:Kanoriket pl:Kano (miasto) pt:Kano sv:Kano

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