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10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures - Culture (3) - Nairaland

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Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by basisop(m): 11:11pm On Mar 20, 2015
Ba a' aikin Baban Giwa a' Kano!!!

Yan Kanawa mai albarka a' babu.
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by easystudy101: 11:36pm On Mar 20, 2015
kaura5000:
The foundations for this wall which surrounds th old city of Kano wer laid by Sakri Gijimasu from 1095 - 1134 and the wall was completed in the middle of 14th Century during the reign of Zamnagawa. In the 16th century, the walls were further extended to their present position. The gates are as old as the walls and were used to control movement of people in and out of the city. Though, most of them are largely in ruins.

And the funny thing is that none of the builders have an ONYIBO masters or phD degree in architecture.

It's high time we retrace our steps back to when we were great.

We as a people have lost our way. It's time for CHANGE.

3 Likes

Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by Fulaboy(m): 12:43am On Mar 21, 2015
Kbraims:
Kano tumbi giwa kodame kazo an fika... Likes 4rm kanawa,let see it rolling...
koda kauyanci kazo an pika ko tongue
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by Fulaboy(m): 12:46am On Mar 21, 2015
Osegancy:
KANO......ba gari ba dajin Allah..... KANO ta Dabo Tumbin Giwa, ko dame kazo anfika. (KANO....not a city but a forest created by God..... Kano of Dabo the stomach ot Elephant, anything you come with they pass you).
koda kauyanci ne ko wink
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by AMvanquish: 12:53am On Mar 21, 2015
Kano! My city , My state.. Nice one Op. coolKano! My city , My state.. Nice one Op.

2 Likes

Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by dasparrow: 1:29am On Mar 21, 2015
@Post

I am loving this thread. Very educative. Nice one OP. The North will regain her glory again someday. If you believe that, say Amin.

2 Likes

Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by anonym0us: 7:04am On Mar 21, 2015
Na banger I go use blow that wall
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by Osegancy(m): 10:42am On Mar 21, 2015
YES ANYTHING U THINK OF
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by noahklub: 12:09pm On Mar 21, 2015
kaura5000:
Durbar festival

Please the third picture of the men holding the white staff, op can you give me his name? Who is he?

And is that not the star of David(6stars) on the staff? And the laser picture down the man holding a little staff with cross on it?
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by LeoHezzy(m): 4:49pm On Mar 21, 2015
Wow that the great Kano... I miss home just can't wait to leave school we really God intervention in this country and to drive away the Boko haram.. We need unity God bless Nigeria..
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by LeoHezzy(m): 4:49pm On Mar 21, 2015
Wow that the great Kano... I miss home just can't wait to leave school we really need God intervention in this country and to drive away the Boko haram.. We need unity God bless Nigeria..
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by Kbraims(m): 11:19pm On Mar 22, 2015
Fulaboy:
koda kauyanci kazo an pika ko tongue
ko da iya magana kazo an fika... lolz
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by Fulaboy(m): 11:30pm On Mar 22, 2015
Kbraims:
ko da iya magana kazo an fika... lolz
baka bani ansa ba undecided
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by theendishere: 12:08am On Mar 23, 2015
I am also as interested. This is another evidence that King David was a black man, and a Nigerian too. Please see 'IS EDUCATION IGNORANCE' at www.noahklub.wordpress com, www.Facebook.com/noahklub


(quote author=noahklub post=31851285]

Please the third picture of the men holding the white staff, op can you give me his name? Who is he?

And is that not the star of David(6stars) on the staff? And the laser picture down the man holding a little staff with cross on it?
[/quote]
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by Kbraims(m): 5:10pm On Mar 26, 2015
Fulaboy:
baka bani ansa ba undecided
kaima kasan ba kauyanci a kano ai
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by Fulaboy(m): 9:12pm On Mar 26, 2015
Kbraims:
kaima kasan ba kauyanci a kano ai
waya gaya ma undecided
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by PhysicsQED(m): 4:55am On May 18, 2015

Reviews


Dr Patrick Darling (UK):
In 1903, the Kano City Walls were described as being 'the most impressive monument in West Africa'; but, despite many pleas to the authorities concerned over the last century, the walls have been allowed to decay and even to be built over by the rich. In recent years, the better preserved walls near the Kwiambana gate have become hidden behind new houses and shops. Reconstructions have either been fanciful and non-historic or far too low - nowhere reaching more than half the 18 metre height recorded by Barth and other C19th visitors. The western section of the wall is the best section to see; but it requires using the track outside or walking along its course. The southern and eastern sides, in particular, have been beset either side by vast borrow-pits for house-building leaving only a narrow walkway between - this being very slippery owing to the loose grit from the clayey grus. The original narrow entrance gateways have also been widened for modern traffic. This overall loss of integrity was, sadly, the main reason for not listing the Kano City Walls as a priority site in the original Tentative List.
Date posted: December 2010

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/t5171.html




Salvaging Kano City’s crumbling Walls
Posted by: Kolade Adeyemi, Kano in Northern Report February 11, 2014

The Kano City Walls used to be remarkable historical landmarks. They were also known to have protected the city from the invasions of enemies during those years of communal warfare. They were beautiful sights to behold.
These days, the once magnificent walls are shadows of themselves, seemingly.
Besides its rich history in commercial activities, such as dyeing, Dubar and its scintillating Dala Hills, the ancient city of Kano boasts traditional walls as rich and long in history as the northern city itself.
According to historical records, the foundations for the wall which surrounds the old city of Kano were laid by Sakri Gijimasu between A.D. 1095 and A.D. 1134. The building of the wall was completed in the mid-14th Century during the reign of Zamnagawa. In the 16th Century, the walls were further expanded.
However, there are indications that most part of this historic city wall has been damaged by both human and natural factors.
Speaking to our correspondent on the problems which the City Wall is experiencing, Dr. Sule Bello, a lecturer in the Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) who is also the Chairman of the Protection, Promotion, and Preservation of Kano City Wall Committee which was set up by Kano State government to revive the degenerating walls, said Kano City Wall is very important historical asset in Africa. He further stated that it is so rich and so full of importance that if they are lost, it will be difficult to develop them in any normal way.
“Development is about learning from the past and improving on it. You know that there are some very significant landmarks in the history of Kano, one of which is the construction of the Kano City Wall which is over 700 years old now.
“If you are familiar with the City Walls, you will discover that they are remarkable illustrations in the development of the multi-cultural communities.
“In Kano, you are dealing with people from the Arab world, people from various parts of West Africa, people from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds and constituting the city itself. So, there is need to keep certain heritages and cultures alive because these are part of the things that attracted these people to Kano at the first instance,” he stated.
Dr. Bello further noted that, “if you take a look at the Kano City Wall, you will discover that many people who are from other countries appreciate it more than we Nigerians. This is so because to them, it presents, in first instance, the greatest evidence of massive civilised and urbanised historical development in Africa.
“At one time,for people like Mr. Davidson and others who have studied Africa, it is a remarkable monument. Secondly, foreigners and Nigerians alike who have studied it have remarked that it is an ancient re-technology architecture which represents important achievements which seem to have been lost now. But if we fully recover them, they will greatly assist us in our efforts towards developing our engineering capabilities in building and other related designs.
“Finally, it was because of the Kano City Wall that helped Kano to develop into the greatest commercial entrapode in West Africa because it made possible long distance trade. The famous Kurmi Market was the biggest market in Africa at that time which serviced West African trade, inter-regional trade within West Africa and North Africa, Central Africa as well as some parts of East Africa. So, these were all possible because the great City Wall was there.
“In terms of tourist attraction, Kano City Wall is the number one major asset that you have in this state. In fact, right now, Kano does not have anything that can be compared with the Kano City Wall as an asset. It was the people of Kano, not even Nigerians, who went to the United Nations and requested that Kano City Wall be declared as the world heritage site.
“People from Kenya, Asia and Europe had studied and read about Kano in the history books. Most of them had never come to West Africa. It was these people who said it should be part of the world heritage sites. Unfortunately, by the time they came; they discovered that a lot of it had been destroyed.
“Over 70 per cent of it had been destroyed—and they were very annoyed. Apart from Kano City Wall, what else would have prompted the entire United Nations to identify with Kano? What do we have now that can compare to that? Even as majority of it is lost, we must do our best to preserve it in some form. To restore it is possible,” he said.
According to him, most of the city walls have been destroyed and have been turned into refuse dumps and public toilets. Miscreants dig the mud for sale and nobody talks to them. In actual fact, they have totally contaminated the town.
“Historically speaking,” Dr. Bello said, “we have about 14 gates. Currently, we have only about eight city gates. Many of them have been destroyed and new gates have to be constructed. We are working on their restoration in order to put those gates back so that anybody coming as a tourist can see that there is some evidence that the city wall existed.”
He also revealed that the state government is aware that there is no way Kano can become a modern city without preserving the past glory which is the Kano City Wall. According to the terms of reference given to the City Wall Protection and Preservation Committee by Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, they are mandated to undertake a comprehensive assessment of Kano City Walls monument so as to map out areas and undertake rehabilitation, preservation, conservation and reclamation of the Walls, including labeling.
The committee will also examine the need to extend the green zone barricade protecting the city walls to go round the entire walls outline where possible and make appropriate recommendations for implementation, review the existing traditional gate structures and recommend rehabilitation programme that will transform the gates to meet the growing traffic requirements and at the same time retaining the integrity and authenticity of the gates within their traditional form and outlook. The committee is also to propose viable utilisation plans for the gates and the city walls for the purpose of checking unhealthy habits of refuse disposals and illegal encroachment.
Governor Kwankwaso also urged the committee to examine existing legislations and establish whether their provisions have adequately ensured the protection of the walls and if other wise, recommend areas of amendment and the enactment of an appropriate legislation that will ensure the protection of the Kano City Walls and its reservation areas, recommend the provision of monument protection security measures, including setting up of Kano Heritage Marshals.
He also urged the committee to come up with proposal for effective utilisation of the ponds and ditches along the city walls which may include but not limited to their purification and conservation for productive aquatic activities such as fish farming, recreation and spots.
The committee is also to identify and document all other significant historical monument in Kano in a bid to facilitate the ongoing process of nominating Kano City Walls and associated sites into the world heritage list, develop a functional management plan for each identified monument, come up with a fund-raising plan that will identify and approach local and international donor agencies to support future preservation and promotion efforts. It should also examine the possibility of a permanent collaborative heritage management regime for the preservation and promotion of heritage sites and monuments of Kano and make appropriate recommendations to that effect.
On Kano State government’s determination to rebuild and restore the city wall heritage, Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Co-operative and Tourism, Dr. Nuhu Damburam said the state government is ready to restore the glory of the city walls, even as he said government is waiting for the proposal from the Protection and Preservation Committee on the restoration of the Kano City Walls. He promised that once the proposal is handy, the state government would not hesitate to provide all necessary resources to get the city walls back to life.
Rehabilitating the Kano City Wall may be taxing as the walls have dilapidated so much.
People are of the view that even if the city walls are rebuilt, they may definitely fall again if proper security checks are not put in place to ensure adequate preservation.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/salvaging-kano-citys-crumbling-walls/


Unfortunately, it seems the Kano walls may be going the way of other historical landmarks in Africa.
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by lawani: 8:01am On Nov 22, 2015
All peoples were great and achieved monumental feats in the past when they depended on their own hard work and joint effort instead of waiting for some allocaion from an obscure place. Our ancestors were more enlightened and advanced than us and they achieved feats we can not today. I doubt if modern Kano can join hands and resources together to build such a wall today in the 21st century. Old Kano can not be ruled by a President who is a billionaire in dollars without having a single viable business yet wants to fight corruption. This is why the Kanawa tha wants change must seek that the country be reorganised to stop depending on oil money or breakup.
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by Nobody: 7:56am On Nov 23, 2015
lawani:
All peoples were great and achieved monumental feats in the past when they depended on their own hard work and joint effort instead of waiting for some allocaion from an obscure place. Our ancestors were more enlightened and advanced than us and they achieved feats we can not today. I doubt if modern Kano can join hands and resources together to build such a wall today in the 21st century. Old Kano can not be ruled by a President who is a billionaire in dollars without having a single viable business yet wants to fight corruption. This is why the Kanawa tha wants change must seek that the country be reorganised to stop depending on oil money or breakup.

Oooh please just shut up!!!
Re: 10th Century Great Wall Of Kano And Associated Structures by WeissMaganti(m): 5:43pm On Apr 23, 2016
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