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National Museum Gidan Makam Kano,By Suleiman Umar, Aminu Abdullahi Abubakar Yusuf,-

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Gidan Makama Museum

Gidan Makama Museum Kano, often known as Kano Museum, is a museum in Kano, Nigeria. This edifice served as Kano’s interim palace until the permanent palace, Gidan Rumfa, was built in the 15th century.

The museum houses extensive collections of arts, crafts, and items of historic interest relating to the Kano area, located in a 15th-century historical building, which is recognized as a National Monument by the Government of Nigeria. Galleries include the Zaure, or main entrance hall, which features displays of traditional materials, Kano city walls, and maps, the history of statehood, Kano in the nineteenth century, the Civil War, economy, industry, and music.

The Gidan Makama team undertakes substantial scientific research to preserve Nigeria’s historical and cultural legacy.  It is also ranked 349 out of the top 100 attractions in Kano, Nigeria.

Therefore here are the top 10 interesting facts about Gidan Makam that you should consider knowing if you are planning a trip to visit Nigeria. They include the following;

1. The museum is organized into eleven galleries

Gidan Makama Museum portraits, By Aliyu Shaba –

The museum comprises 11 galleries, each with materials, artifacts, and photographs depicting the people’s historical past and also displaying distinct artifacts and aspects of Kano’s Hausa culture. 

The galleries include;  the first gallery which is about Hausa traditional architecture and includes building materials used by the people of Kano, the second has the Kofar kabuga gates through which the British entered and subsequently captured Kano; it also has a map showing the walls of Kano; Third exhibits a traditional religious history of Kano in pictures and the story of the early invaders of Kano led by Bagauda, fourth depicts the Fulani influenced the history of Kano starting from the 19th century, fifth tells the story of the Kano Civil war; sixth tells the story of old Kano economy and the Durbar, seventh has the colonial period and pictorial history of 220th-century political figures, eighth includes the Islamic heritage of the people of Kano, ninth shows various occupations of the people of Kano and includes farm instruments, basketwork, and textiles, tenth has musical instruments and the eleventh depicts the traditional Hausa bride’s room.

2. The entrance of the Museum

At the entrance to the Gidan Makama Museum, two gloomy cannons greet you. The concept of these guns is that they were part of the armory left behind by the British invasion of Kano in the early 1900s.

There are also enormous pots said to be large enough to fit an adult. The most popular legend has it that the pots were buried behind the city walls and used for defense by earlier monarchs.

3. The museum’s architectural design

The architectural design of the museum is undoubtedly the most admired feature and achievement. The anthropological collections of the Hausa people and photographic documentation of the city are prominent among its presentations.

4. It is one of the National Monuments in Nigeria

Gidan Makama is one of the antique structures representing traditional Hausa architecture. The structure initially had mud walls typical of the period, but modern rehabilitation work was done afterward. However, it is one of the 32 museums managed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

Before it was turned into a museum, it was a 500-year-old palace in Kano. It houses a notable collection of Kano-related arts, crafts, and historic artefacts.

5. It served as a residential home for Muhammad Rumfa

Gidan Makama Museum portraits, By Aliyu Shaba –

It all started with a home compound built for Rumfa, he was the  Fulani Emir of Kano Abdullahi Burja’s grandson and heir to the Emir title. Rumfa was appointed Makaman of Kano (the equivalent of the King’s assistant or a District Head), hence the name ‘Gidan Makama,’ which translates to House of Makama.

Rumfa remained till he relocated to his new palace. Even today, successive Makamas keep the property as their official residence.

6. The museum was built in the 15th century

Gidan Makama Museum portraits, By Aliyu Shaba –

The museum’s building was originally erected in the 15th century by Emir Abdullahi Burja as a residence for the Makama (Makama Rumfa). Hundreds of years later, in the early 1950s, Lord Lugard decided to divide the territory and use a portion of it as a museum. It is named Gidan Makama for the location of the first occupants.

The construction of the museum initially had mud walls typical of the time period in which it was erected, although some modern rehabilitation work was done in later years.

7. Koroso dance and theatrical company performs in an open space inside the museum.

Gidan Makama Museum is an open-air museum that gathers and re-erects old structures in huge outdoor areas, usually in the context of re-created historical landscapes. Therefore  a performance platform for a Koroso dance and theatre company was set up inside the museum.

8. The museum covers a long and remarkable history of Kano

Gidan Makama, Kano (2),By DipoTayo –

The large museum highlights Kano’s long and amazing history. Here are several one-of-a-kind exhibitions that feature historical arts, crafts, and relics. The gallery is dominated, with Card Kano and a reconstruction of the city walls, as well as the history of statehood, civil war, the economics, and industry.

There are two firearms at the museum’s entryway that were left behind after the British colonialists conquered the city. In the museum courtyard, giant pots discovered during archaeological excavations “welcome” visitors.

9.Its a tourist attraction

Gidan Makama Museum portraits, By Aliyu Shaba –

Gidan Makama Museum is ranked 349 out of the top 100 attractions in Kano, Nigeria. It is quite famous among tourists because to the gorgeous Sudanese-style building and rare collections housed here.

10. It offers skill acquisition for the youth program

This program provides free training to secondary school graduates from all throughout the state. The skills trained in the museum include tailoring, knitting, bead making, and cooking are all part of the curriculum. Finally, when the trainees are done with the training, they are  awarded certificates.